V^tebster  Family  Library  of  Veterinary 

Cummtngs  School  of  Veterinary  Medidneat 

Tufts  University 

200  WesttDoro  Road 

North  Grafton,  MA  01596 


liliii 


r^ 


THE 


GENTLEMAN'S 

STABLE    GUIDE: 


CONTAINING 

A  FAMILIAR.   DESCRIPTION   OF  THE   AMERICAN  STABLE; 
THE  MOST  APPROVED  METHOD  OF  FEEDING,  GROOM- 
ING, AND  GENERAL  MANAGEMENT  OF  HORSES,- 


TOGETHER  WITH 

DIRECTIONS  FOR  THE  CARE  OF  CARRIAGES,  HARNESS,  ETO. 


BY 

ROBERT  McCLURE,  M.D.,  Y.S., 

AUTHOR  OF  "diseases  IN  THE  AMERICAN  STABLE,  FIELD,  AND  FARM  YARD.* 


PHILADELPHIA: 
PORTER     &     COATES, 

822  CHESTNUT  STREET. 


>-KfOr-nz> 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1870,  by 

PORTER  &  COATES, 

In  the  Clerk's  Ofl&ce  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  in  and  for  the 
Eastern  District  of  Pennsj-lvania. 

MEARS  &  DUSENBERT,  STEREOTTPERS.  SHERMAN  i  CO.,  PBJNTERS. 


PREFACE 


TiliS  little  book  is  founded  on  a  reasoned  experi 
ence  of  many  years  as  a  veterinarian.  It  treats  of 
the  construction  of  private  stables  for  the  gentleman, 
the  "  Club,"  the  farm,  the  livery,  and  the  railroad ; 
of  the  care  of  horses  in  health, — dietetics,  regimen, 
and  hygiene;  of  carriages  and  harness,  and  how  to 
take  care  of  them.  All  is  elucidated  in  such  a  way, 
that  no  one  need  plead  ignorance  as  to  the  duties  of 
grooms  and  the  requirements  of  the  stable, —  the 
quantity  and  quality  of  food  the  horse  requires,  and 
how  to  prepare  it,  together  with  the  effects  which  may 
be  expected. 

Knowing  well  the  general  want  of  economy  in 
most  of  our  stables,  a  guide  or  preceptor  will  not  be 

(v) 


71  PREFACE. 

thought  unnecessary  or  out  of  place,  and  should  it 
be  even  partially  instrumental  in  the  removal  of 
error,  prejudice,  or  short-sightedness  from  professed 
horsemen,  as  "  Diseases  in  the  American  Stable, 
Field,  and  Farm-Yard"  has  been  in  regard  to  the 
erroneous  views  of  the  treatment  of  the  diseases  of 
all  our  domestic  animals,  and  the  substitution  of  a 
humane,  scientific,  and  successful  system,  the  result 
will  sufficiently  satisfy  the 

Author. 

Philadelphia,  1869. 


CONTENTS 


INTRODUCTION Page     11 

CHAPTEE     I. 

STABLES. 

The  Gentleman's  Stable — Its  Comfort — Completeness — "Walls 
— Windows  —  Doors  —  Drainage  —  Stalls  —  Mongers  and 
Racks — Hall  Posts  —  Loose-Boxes  —  Advantages  and  Dis- 
advantages— Ventilation — Light — Temperature — Sleeping- 
Room —  Carriage-House  and  Harness  Room  or  Closet        .     17 

CHAPTEE    II. 

STdBLES  OF  DIFFERENT  KINDS. 

The  "  Club,"  Livery,  Sale,  Racing,  Railroad,  and  Farm 
Stables 43 

CHAPTEE    III. 

DIETETICS,  HYGIENE,  AND  REGIMEN. 

Chemistry — Quality  and  Quantity  of  Food — Water  —  Oats — 

Corn 66 

(vii) 


Vlll  CONTENTS. 

CHAP  TEE    lY. 

DIETETICS,  HYGIENE,  AND  REGIMEN— Coufniuerf. 

Barley — Rye — Carrots  and  Turnips  —  Grass  —  Pasture  and 
Soiling  —  Timothy  and  Clover  Hay — Bran  —  Cooking  of 
Food  for  Horses  —  Prindle's  Steamer — Weight  of  Stable 
Feed Page     87 

CHAPTEE    V. 

STABLE  WORK. 

Cleansing  and  Airing  the  Stable — Straightening  the  Blankets 
— Waterbrushing  the  Quarters — Feeding  and  "Watering — 
Dressing  or  Grooming — Shaking  down  the  Beds  and  Tidy- 
ing the  Stable — Exercise — Blanketing — Bandages — Tying 
— Care  of  the  Feet — Treatment  after  Work — Bedding — 
Rye  Straw — Sawdust — Forest  Leaves — Oat  Straw — Salt, 
Marsh,  and  Meadow  or  Natural  Hay — Tan-bark — Stable 
Vices — Kicking — Biting — Shying — Rolling — Cribbing — 
Breaking  Loose — Tearing  the  Blankets — Vicious  to  clean     108 

CHAPTEE    YI. 

CARRIAGES,  HARNESS,  &c. 

Carriages  —  Their  beauty  —  Lightness,  strength,  and  weak- 
ness— Axles — Collings'  Patent  —  Patent  Mail  and  Half- 
mail — Common  Springs — The  Elliptic  and  Shackle — Their 
safety  and  strength — Care  of  Carriages,  and  how  to  wash 


CONTENTS.  IX 

them — The  best  Grease  for  Axles — Castor  Oil— Crown 
Soap,  its  make  and  value  —  Harness  —  Specialties  in — 
"  Kemble  Jackson"  Bridle — Kicking  Strap  —  Fqur-in- 
hand — Tandem  — Care  of  Harness — Saddles  and  Bridles — 
Bits — Their  variety  and  how  to  clean  them        .  Page  138 


CHAPTER    YII. 

VETERINARY    SURGEONS. 

Veterinary  Nostrums  of  the  Stableman — Fattening — Glossing 
the  Coat — Conditioning  Horses  .....   157 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Breeding  and  Training  of  Horses  —  Accidents  —  Sprains — 
Diseases  —  Runaway  Horses  —  Pasturing  of  Colts  and 
young  Horses — Clipping — Good  Feed  overlooked,  but  an 
important  agent  in  improvement  of  Breeds  of  Horses        .  171 


THE 


AMERICAI  STABLE  GUIDE 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  number  of  Horses  in  the  United  States  is 
estimated  by  careful  judges  at  nearly  eight  millioHS — em- 
bracing all  varieties,  from  the  peerless  Dexter,  trotting 
his  mile  in  2m.  171s.,  or  the  magnificent  thorough-bred 
stallion,  the  proud  sire  of  hundreds  of  winners  on  the  turf, 
to  the  veriest  drudge  that  drags  his  weary  load  along  the 
crowded  streets  of  our  large  cities.  The  value  of  these 
animals  has  been  computed  at  from  ^2,000,000,000  to 
$3,000,000,000,  a  sum  almost  sufficient  to  pay  off  the 
national  debt,  and  perhaps  greater  than  the  entire  gold 
product  of  the  world  for  the  period  in  which  they  were 
reared. 

They  may  for  convenience  be  divided  into  four  classes, 
though  all  such  distinctions  are  of  course  arbitrary,  as  they 
run  into  one  another,  so  that  it  is  difficult  to  say  where 
one  class  begins  and  the  other  ends. 

2  (11) 


12  IXTPtODUCTION. 

1st.  Thorough-bred  stallions  of  acknowledged  repntation 
as  foal-getters. 

2d.  Horses,  not  stallions,  distinguished  for  their  perform- 
ances on  the  turf,  or  giving  promise  of  great  speed. 

3d.  Horses  of  speed,  but  not  quite  so  fast  as  those  in 
the  2d  class. 

4th.   Horses  of  general  utility. 

5th.  Horses  of  slow  work. 

Of  these  the  first  class  has  always  commanded  the  high- 
est prices,  both  in  this  country  and  in  England. 

Says  a  writer  in  a  recent  number  of  a  prominent  sport- 
ing journal : — 

"  Horses  of  great  reputation  have  always  commanded  great 
prices..  At  Newmarket,  in  1805,  a  bay  colt,  by  Pipato,  sold 
for  $75,000.  In  the  same  year,  a  two-year  old  colt  by 
Beningborough,  a  two-year  old  by  Volunteer,  and  a  three- 
year  old  filly  by  Sir  Peter,  were  sold  for  $75,000  each. 
For  the  celebrated  horse  vShark  $50,000  were  refused,  and 
O'Kelly  declined  to  accept  an  offer  of  $100,000  for  bis  stal- 
lion Eclipse.  Tradition  says  that  the  Duke  of  Devonshire 
refused  for  Flying  Childers  the  weight  of  the  horse  in  gold. 
A  few  years  ago,  the  great  sire  Stockwell  could  not  be 
bought  for  $100,000,  and  we  presume  that  when  Gladita- 
teur  was  carrying  everything  before  him  on  the  English 
turf,  the  Count  de  Lagrange  would  not  have  parted  with 
him  for  $150,000." 

In  this  country  stock-breeders  and  owners  of  costly 
animals,  not  being  so  wealthy  as  a  class  as  their  brethren 


INTRODUCTION.  13 

in  the  mother  country,  and  the  stakes  contended  for  being 
neither  so  numerous  nor  so  valuable,  the  prices  paid  have 
ranged  considerably  lower.  Nevertheless,  the  celebrated 
running  stallion  Lexington  was  purchased  for  S15,000, 
for  stock  purposes,  by  the  late  Mr.  Alexander  soon  after 
his  wonderful  performance  at  New  Orleans,  from  the 
effects  of  which  he  became  blind ;  and  when  remonstrated 
with  by  his  friends  for  paying  what  was  then  considered  an 
enormous  price,  Mr.  Alexander  counted  out  upon  the  table 
$15,001,  the  price  he  had  just  received  for  Norfolk,  a  son 
of  Lexington,  since  valued  at  $40,000,  thus  showing  tlie 
judiciousness  of  his  purchase.  Kentucky,  another  son  of 
Lexington,  cost  his  owner,  Mr.  Leonard  W.  Jerome, 
S10,000  ;  and  Mr.  Alexander  refused  $50,000  for  Asteroid, 
Kentucky's  half-brother.  Glencoe  (imported),  Lexington's 
old  antagonist,  changed  hands  at  $35,500.  Priam,  Jr.,  a 
descendant  of  Old  Priam,  purchased  during  the  war  by  a 
member  of  the  Christian  Commission  when  only  9  months 
old,  and  sent  to  Pennsylvania,  was  sold  a  few  days  since  for 
$5000,  without  any  knowledge  of  his  speed  and  endurance, 
but  on  account  of  his  perfection  of  form  and  splendid 
pedigree.  His  present  owner  will  not  take  double  that 
amount  for  him. 

Mr.  Bonner  has  just  purchased  for  $20,000  the  trotting 
stallion  Major  Winfield,  the  sire  of  Commodore  Vander- 
bilt's  "Mountain  Boy,"  and  "Joe  Elliot,"  who  lately 
trotted  a  m.ile  in  2.19  J. 


14  IXTRODUCTION. 

Mr.  C.  P.  Relf  has  refused  an  offer  of  850,000  for  his 
famous  stallion  Mambrino  Pilot,  and  with  reason — for  a 
moderate  estimate  of  his  earnings  for  a  single  year  was  cal- 
culated at  more  than  one-fifth  that  amount.  Hanibleto- 
nian,  the  prince  of  trotting  stallions,  is  valued  at  $100,000, 
notwithstanding  his  advanced  age. 

The  second  class  is  more  numerous  than  the  first,  but 
is  still  very  small  in  comparison  with  the  whole  number  of 
horses  in  the  United  States,  and  may  be  set  down  at  about 
70,000,  commanding  prices  ranging  from  S3000  to  $10,000, 
with  many  instances  where  two  and  three  times  the  latter 
figure  has  been  paid.  Mr.  Bonner  gave  $33,000  for  Dexter, 
and,  had  it  not  been  for  his  notoriously  bad  temper,  and 
the  bad  condition  of  his  feet,  defects  which,  thanks  to  his 
owner's  careful  treatment  and  judicious  shoeing,  have  been 
effectually  overcome,  the  price  would  doubtless  have  been 
much  higher,  as  he  might  easily  have  made  more  than  that 
amount  in  a  single  year  by  exhibiting  at  fairs  and  on  the 
track.  "George  Palmer"  cost  his  owner  828,000;  the 
bay  horse  "  Henry,"  raised  in  Kansas,  has  been  sold  during 
the  past  year  for  815,000,  and  836,000  has  since  been 
offered  for  him  and  refused  by  his  present  owner.  820,000 
was  paid  for  "Goldsmith  Maid,"  and  817,500  for  Lady 
Thorn.  The  horses  Fearnought,  George  Wilkes,  and  Draco 
Prince,  trotting  in  2.25,  are  valued  at  820,000  each. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  all  the  "  Fancy"  horses  do 
not  appear  on  the  turf  or  race-course,  as  the  greater  num- 


INTRODUCTION.  15 

ber  are  in  the  hands  of  private  and  wealthy  gentlemen, 
and  only  used  for  road  or  driving  purposes  or  for  the  stud. 

The  individual  value  of  horses  of  the  third  class  is  much 
less  than  those  of  the  two  previously  mentioned ;  but  as  a 
class  being  much  more  numerous,  their  aggregate  value  is 
much  larger. 

A  horse  that  can  trot  in  2.45  will  readily  bring  from 
$1500  to  $2000.  A  Bashaw  or  Messenger  that  can  trot  in 
2.35  will  command  $5000,  while  one  that  can  beat  2.30 
is  considered  cheap  at  $10,000,  and  for  every  second  less 
in  the  twenties  $1000  additional  can  be  obtained. 

The  fourth  class  comprises  about  three-eighths  of  the 
whole  number,  and  includes  all  such  animals  as  are  stylish 
in  action  and  well  adapted  for  general  wagon  and  road 
purposes.     The  prices  paid  vary  from  $300  to  $2000. 

Lastly,  we  have  that  most  useful  and  most  frequently 
much-abused  and  badly-kept  animal,  the  horse  of  slow 
work,  numbering  about  5,000,000,  or  five-eighths  of  the 
whole,  commanding  prices  from  $50  to  $200, 

The  prices  and  figures  above  given  will  show  at  a  glance 
what  a  valuable  animal  the  horse  is,  and  what  a  sum  of 
money  is  invested  in  horseflesh  in  America  alone. 

And  yet,  notwithstanding  the  enormous  interests  in- 
volved, it  is  surprising  that  so  little  intelligent  thought 
has  been  given  this  subject.  Proverbially  wasteful  and 
reckless  as  we  Americans  are,  in  nothing  are  we  more  so 
than  in  our  care  of  the  noblest  and  most  useful  animal 
2* 


16  INTRODUCTION. 

wliicli  God  lias  bestowed  on  man.  Especially  is  this  true 
of  his  treatment  when  in  the  stable,  where  the  groom 
is  allowed  to  mismanage  the  poor  brutes  committed  to  his 
tender  care,  as  his  whim  or  ignorance  may  dictate.  To 
show  how  a  stable  ought  to  be  constructed  and  managed, 
is  the  object  of  this  little  work ;  whether  it  has  been  suc- 
cessful or  not  it  is  for  the  reader  to  judge. 


CHAPTER    I. 

STABLES. 

The  Gentleman's  Stable — Its  Comfort — Completeness — "Walls — 
Windows  —  Doors — Drainage  —  Stalls  —  Mangers  and  Racks — 
Hall  Posts  —  Loose-Boxes  —  Advantages  and  Disadvantages  — 
Ventilation — Light — Temperature — Sleeping-Room — Carriage- 
House  and  Harness  Room  or  Closet. 

At  no  day  since  the  domestication  of  the  horse,  has  he 
been  so  comfortably  provided  for  as  in  the  stable  of  the 
American  gentleman.  The  splendor  and  pomp  of  the  wise 
king  of  Israel,  the  gaudy  trapping,  tinselled  show  and  orna- 
mental fixtures  of  the  oriental  prince,  cannot  be  compared 
with  the  more  substantial  arrangements  provided  for  the 
care  and  comfort  of  American  carriage  and  pleasure  horses. 
Whatever  lack  of  comfort  there  may  be  found  to  exist  can- 
not be  truthfully  charged  to  any  imperfection  or  want  of 
provision  in  the  construction  of  our  fine  stables  in  all  their 
details.  This  may  without  fear  of  contradiction  be  called 
the  heyday  of  stable  comfort  for  the  horse  of  the  gentleman 
of  the  United  States.  High  ceilings,  airy  stalls,  ample 
loose-boxes,  good  drainage  with  free  ventilation,  will  be 
found  to  be  the  rule  and  not  the  exception.     Compare  the 

(17) 


18  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

stables  of  to-day,  both  in  tlieir  number  and  perfection,  with 
those  of  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  and  no  difficulty  will  be 
found  in  arriving  at  the^deductions  here  announced  con- 
cerning them.  Therefore,  in  the  pride  of  our  spirit  we 
say,  that  the  experience  obtained  in  a  series  of  years  in  the 
second  city  of  this  republic,  where  duty  and  love  of  the 
horse  impelled  us  to  erect  such  establishments,  leads  to  the 
conclusion  that  there  is  little  to  be  desired  in  addition  to 
what  already  exists  for  the  arrangements  of  the  stable  and 
comfort  of  the  horse. 

It  must  be  remembered  by  all  who  are  interested  in  such 
matters  that  the  plans  for  our  private  city  stables  and  their 
perfection  have  been  executed  almost  in  opposition  to  cir- 
cumstances, and  in  many  instances  beyond  the  comprehen- 
sion of  the  owners.  A  small  lot  of  ground  behind  or  back 
of  the  dwelling,  or  at  least  within  reasonable  distance  of  it, 
is  usually  selected  as  the  stable  site,  and  it  is  upon  this  that 
we  find  the  finished  stable  and  carriage-house  of  the  gentle- 
man. The  ingenuity  of  the  architect  and  the  craft  of  the 
builder  has  erected  a  house  for  the  horse  and  family  equi- 
page of  which  no  age  nor  country  can  claim  a  better,  and 
apparently  under  adverse  circumstances.  This,  then,  is 
the  stable  of  the  present,  which  is  acceptable  to  us  for  all 
purposes  intended,  and  from  which  we  prefer  to  take  as  a 
text  the  description  of  the  gentleman's  city  stable. 

The  walls  of  city  stables  and  carriage-houses  are  almost 
invariably  built  of  brick  of  the  ordinary  kind,  but  on  the 
front  aspect  or  wall  it  is  usually  faced  with  pressed  brick 


WALLS — WINDOWS.  1^ 

of  extra  quality  &nd  laid  with  skill  and  care.  The  lintels 
of  windows  and  doors  are  not  the  same  in  all  stables,  some 
being  arched  with  brick,  others  with  granite,  brownstone, 
marble,  or  iron.  On  the  inside  of  the  walls  some  are  plas- 
tered, others  boarded  with  pine  and  sometimes  even  with 
foreign  and  more  expensive  wood,  in  many  instances  giving 
the  appearance  of  a  huge  polished  box.  This  high  finish 
is  usually  given  to  the  walls  of  the  stable  and  carriage- 
house  only.  The  hay-loft,  except  where  there  are  rooms 
for  the  groom  or  coachman  to  sleep  in,  are  not  so  highly 
finished  in  this  respect;  nor  is  this  necessary,  either  for  the 
keeping  of  the  hay  or  feed.  In  some  instances,  however, 
the  game  of  billiards  and  other  amusements  are  carried  on 
over  the  stable,  and  where  sufiicient  ventilation  is  secured 
no  injury  to  carriage,  harness,  or  horse  can  result  from  such 
a  contrivance ;  in  fact,  it  may  sometimes  be  a  decided 
advantage,  for  horses  like  company  and  even  excitement 
about  them. 

The  dooes  are  usually  of  two  sizes,  one  for  the  stable 
proper  and  the  other  for  the  carriage-house ;  the  latter 
opening  in  the  middle  and  sliding  on  rollers  back  against 
the  wall,  thus  occupying  little  or  no  room  when  open,  and 
obviating  any  risk  of  horses  or  carriages  coming  in  contact 
with  it.  This  plan  of  opening  large  carriage-house  doors 
cannot  be  always  adopted,  from  w^ant  of  space  or  width 
of  wall  to  allow  the  door  to  run  back  its  whole  length. 
When  this  is  the  case,  they  should  be  hung  on  hinges  and 
open  out  on  the  street;  always,  however,  taking  the  precau- 


20  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

tion  of  having  prongs  of  iron  to  fasten  tliem  when  open,  to 
prevent  the  wind  or  other  agency  from  throwing  them 
against  whatever  may  be  passing  through.  Neglect  of 
this  precaution  results  in  injury  to  the  panels  of  the  car- 
riage, and  more  than  once  has  contact  with  the  open  doors 
been  the  cause  of  horses  running  away.  The  doors  of  the 
stable  are  in  some  cases  placed  on  hinges,  and  in  others 
on  rollers,  sliding  back  against  the  wall  like  the  carriage- 
house  doors.  The  hinged  door  when  opening  into  the 
stable  is  objectionable,  chiefly  on  account  of  its  being 
sometimes  left  partly  open  and  the  horse  being  loose  at  the 
time  or  thoughtlessly  led  out,  jamming  himself  between  the 
door  and  the  wall;  whereas  if  the  door  opened  outwardly 
or  was  placed  on  rollers,  it  would  open  to  its  fullest 
extent,  or  slide  back  to  its  proper  place  by  the  simple  pres- 
sure made  against  it.  The  key  of  the  stable  door  at  the 
time  it  is  unlocked  should  be  taken  out  of  the  door  and 
put  in  its  proper  place ;  that  is,  if  it  is  a  long-handled  one 
and  apt  to  catch  upon  some  of  the  harness  when  horses  are 
passing.  For  this  reason,  also,  stable-door  keys  should 
have  a  ring  to  turn  them  by,  instead  of  the  usual  shank  or 
long  handle,  and  a  place  sunk  in  the  door  or  wood  for  this 
ring  to  fall  and  lie  in  while  it  is  in  the  door. 

The  windows  of  city  stables  are  chiefly  confined  to  the 
front  of  the  building,  showing  into  the  carriage-house ;  but 
if  there  are  back  windows,  they  are  generally  placed  above 
the  horses,  so  as  to  throw  the  light  into  the  stable-loft,  and 
not  into  the  stable  or  horse  apartment  at  all.     In   many 


WINDOWS. 


21 


instances  this  is  done  because  in  large  cities  owners  and 
occupants  of  houses  have  an  aversion  to  horse-stable  win- 
dows facing  them.  Many  suits  at  law  have  been  brought 
against  the  owners  of  stables  by  persons  living  opposite  to 
these  windows,  and  we  are  sorry  to  say  the  result  is  gener- 
ally in  favor  of  the  plaintiffs,  thereby  compelling  the  build- 
ing up  of  the  windows  and  darkening  the  stable,  to  the 
inconvenience  of  the  stable  men,  and  also  to  the  injury  of 
the  horses,  particularly  of  their  eyes,  as  dark  stables  are 
one  great  cause  of  weak  eyes  and  blindness.  To  obviate 
this  difficulty,  and  as  we  know  of  no  law  preventing  a  fix- 
ture to  the  stable  of  whatever  device  or  pattern  one  may 
choose,  we  would  select  the  plan  here  illustrated,  where 
neither  glass  nor  horse  can  be  seen  from  the  outside. 


iiiiim.iiiiii  ^ 
l,ri,ji!.^=^ 


(a)  represents  the  window  closed;  (6)  the  window  opened;  (c)  the  ratchet  to 
regulate  and  hold  the  window  open.  The  arrow  in  figure  (6)  shows  the  direc- 
tion of  the  air. 


22  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

Windows  of  tliis  descrq^tion,  as  far  as  we  know,  have 
not  been  much  used  in  our  stables,  but  can  be  seen  on  the 
Bouthern  exposure  of  the  Philadelphia  County  Prison 
(Moyamensing)  ;  answering,  we  believe,  the  objection  to 
exposed  windows  on  buildings  usually  considered  not  the 
most  respectable  to  some  neighborhoods.  The  windows 
should  be  above  the  level  of  the  head,  so  that  when  open 
no  cold  draught  of  air  will  force  itself  against  the  horse  in 
a  direct  line.  This  we  will  more  fully  explain  when  con- 
sidering ventilation. 

The  floors  of  city.suibles  are  of  various  kinds  of  mate- 
rial. The  stable  proper,  its  stalls,  loose-boxes,  &c.,  are  usu- 
ally covered  with  wood  laid  in  various  ways.  This  material 
is  perhaps  less  objectionable  for  such  purposes  than  any 
other  in  use,  since  floors  laid  with  wood  last  longer  and 
need  less  repairing  than  do  those  laid  with  stone  ;  how- 
ever, some  persons  object  to  wood  on  account  of  its  becom- 
ing saturated  with  urine  and  other  animal  fluids  in  a  short 
time.  Concrete  is  another  substance  now  used  in  some  rare 
instances  for  floors  of  stables,  but  from  what  we  have  seen 
of  it  we  cannot  truthfully  recommend  it  for  such  a  purpose, 
as  it  is  very  apt  during  the  hot  season  to  become  full  of 
holes  and  very  uneven  on  its  surface ;  its  chief  composition 
being,  we  believe,  gas  tar  mixed  with  sand  or  gravel.  Cob- 
ble and  Belgian  pavements  are  also  in  use  for  stable-floors, 
but  more  frequently  for  the  floor  of  the  carriage-house  or  on 
that  part  of  it  upon  which  carriages  stand  while  being 
washed.     The  floor  of  the  carriage-house  is  in  many  estab- 


FLOORS — DRAINAGE.  23 

Jisliments  the  same  as  is  used  in  the  stable,  but  more 
usually  a  portion  of  it  is  paved  with  bricks  put  down  flat, 
and  in  some  instances,  to  insure  durability,  on  their  edges, 
especially  iu  that  part  where  the  carriage  washing  is  done. 
In  the  finer  stables,  large  flagstones  are  used,  and  generally 
in  such  cases  the  whole  of  the  floor  is  thus  laid  as  far  as 
the  adjoining  one  of  the  stable.  This  diversity  only  shows 
the  views  and  tastes  of  the  architects  and  builders,  and 
nothing  more. 

The  drainage  of  stables  is  a  matter  of  much  import- 
ance, not  only  in  regard  to  health,  but  also  to  cleanliness.  In 
fact,  so  much  is  thought  of  this  in  relation  to  stables,  that 
great  ingenuity  has  been  displayed  in  the  furtherance  and 
accomplishment  of  this  design.  Many  plans  are  in  use,  but 
not  one  of  them  will  serve  the  purpose,  short  of  a  tho- 
rough discharge  of  the  fluid  from  the  stable  without  a 
return  of  the  ammonia  and  gas  up  the  drains  and  through 
the  openings  into  them  from  the  floor  of  the  stable.  We 
do  not  refer  to  drains  on  the  surface,  as  their  gases  are 
diluted  with  the  air  of  the  stable,  but  to  the  deep  gutters 
conveying  the  urine,  &c.,  to  the  common  sewers  of  the  city. 
To  thoroughly  drain  the  stable  of  its  fluids  and  carry  them 
to  the  sewers  of  the  city,  at  the  same  time  preventing  a 
return  of  gas,  is  perhaps  all  that  is  wanted ;  and  for  this 
purpose  a  contrivance  made  of  cast  iron  is  now  used  and  is 
called  a  trap,  which  closely  fits  to  the  opening  in  the  drain 
under  the  floor  of  the  stable.  A  catch-pit  is  the  most  efi'ect- 
ual  way  of  stopping  the  foul  gas  from  entering  the  place ; 
and  we  think  that  without  it  no  stench-trap  can  be  complete. 


24 


AMEKICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 


Section  of  Catch-Pit. 

The  plan  of  this  pit  is  that  the  fluid  from  the  stable  at 
a  falls  into  the  division  h  partitioned  in  the  centre  c, 
all  of  which  is  firmly  fixed  in  by  a  stone  or  iron  lid  c7, 
and  fitted  in  a  frame  at  its  top,  Avhere  it  remains  till  taken 
ofi"  for  the  removal  of  the  solid  portions  contained  within 
it  at  1). 

The  sides  of  the  iron  partition  run  in  grooves  fitted  well 
in  the  plaster  or  mastic  lining  of  the  pit — at  all  events  fit- 
ting sufficiently  close  to  prevent  the  solid  portions  from 
passing  into  the  division  e.  As  will  be  seen  the  parti- 
tion c  does  not  reach  to  the  bottom  of  the  floor,  but  within 


Irun  iurfuL-e  Gutter. 


one  to  four  inches  of  it,  and  it  is  through  this  space  the 
fluid  is  to  pass,  filling  it  to  the  top  on  the  other  half  e, 


DRAINAGE — STALLS.  25 

till  running  over  into  and  through  the  pipe  f  as  fast  as 
it  runs  in  at  c?,  presuming  of  course  the  pit  to  be  level. 
By  adopting  this  construction,  all  stench-traps  may  be  dis- 
pensed with,  substituting  in  their  place  a  simple  iron  sur- 
face-drain, as  seen  in  the  preceding  engraving,  with  its 
checkered  cover  also  of  iron,  and  movable  to  allow  of  its 
being  cleaned  with  the  stable-broom  and  cold  water. 

The  STALLS  are  from  5|  to  6  feet  in  width,  and  are  gen- 
erally separated  by  solid  wooden  partitions.  However,  in 
some  stables,  boards  of  from  4  to  6  inches  in  width  are  used, 
with  a  space  of  2  or  4  inches  between  them ;  to  this  plan 
we  object,  particularly  when  such  spaces  are  left  in  the 
lower  portion  of  the  partition,  allowing  the  foot  of  the 
horse  to  find  its  way  through  into  the  other  stall,  to  be 
injured  by  another  horse,  or,  as  is  sometimes  the  case,  a  leg 
to  be  broken  when  he  has  been  lying  down,  and  suddenly 
springs  to  his  feet  with  great  force  while  his  foot  is  in  such 
a  place.  To  prevent  the  horses  from  biting  each  other 
over  the  tops  of  the  stall  divisions,  an  ornamental  iron  rail- 
ing is  used,  which  we  think  is  very  appropriate,  since  it 
not  only  allows  a  free  current  of  air  to  pass,  but  also  gives 
the  stable  a  finer  appearance,  which  is  by  no  means  to  be 
ignored,  though  appearances  in  a  stable  are  not,  or  at  least 
should  not  be  made  at  the  sacrifice  of  health  and  comfort 
of  the  horse.  Incompatibility  of  health,  comfort,  and  har- 
mony of  design  should  never  be  allowed,  when  at  the  same 
expense  it  can  be  made  perfectly  admissible  without  doing 
violence  to  either. 


26  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

The  MANGERS  AND  RACKS  of  stables  in  cities  are  now 
in  a  majority  of  cases  made  of  iron,  with  tliree  divisions  or 
a  cavity  for  hay-feed,  mashes,  soft  feed  or  gruel.  The 
high  hay-rack  elevated  above  the  horse's  head  is  now 
almost  a  fixture  of  the  past,  and  to  be  seen  only  in  the 
stable  of  the  farmer  or  other  old-fashioned  establishment. 
The  manger  and  rack  are  to  meet  certain  objections  to 
the  low  or  present  position  and  form,  and  are  made  and 
placed  high  enough  from  the  floor  to  prevent  the  horse 
from  getting  his  fore  feet  into  them,  as  would  be  the 
case  if  placed  low  and  without  sufficient  slope  being 
given  toward  the  horse.  This  angle  or  slope  inclining 
towards  the  horse,  in  a  great  measure  prevents  him 
from  attempting  to  get  into  the  manger.  Nor  is  this  all,  for 
the  slope  widens  the  manger  and  rack,  at  the  same  time 
allowing  ample  stall-room  for  the  horse  to  lie  and  stretch 
himself  at  full  length  without  the  head  getting  under  the 
manger,  a  matter  of  the  greatest  importance  in  the  preven- 
tion of  accident  to  the  horse  during  his  struggles  to  free 
himself,  an  illustration  of  which  can  often  be  seen  in  the 
old  high  manger  and  rack.  Again,  if  the  horse  should  get 
Ms  fore  feet  into  the  manger,  being  made  of  iron,  it  can 
bear  the  weight  of  the  fore  part  of  the  horse  without 
injury;  but  as  the  rack  is  usually  placed  in  the  corner  of 
the  stall  and  not  in  the  centre,  it  is  very  seldom  that  he 
will  make  the  attempt.  There  is  a  great  economy  of  hay 
in  racks  placed  below  the  horse's  head,  compared  with 
those  placed  above,  since  the  horse  does  not  waste  it  by 


MANGERS   AND   RACKS.  27 

pulling  it  down  and  tramping  it  among  his  feet,  but  it 
remains  in  the  rack  before  him.  Stonehenge  tells  us,  that 
the  low  rack  saves  the  waste  of  10  pounds  of  hay  per  horse 
in  one  week.  Where  the  troughs  or  mangers  are  made  of 
wood,  to  prevent  the  feet  of  the  horse  from  breaking 
through  the  bottom  of  them,  let  a  post  of  thick  strong  wood 
be  the  resting-place  for  the  bottom  boards,  and  have  them 
firmly  and  solidly  fixed  upon  this ;  for  if  this  precaution  be 
overlooked,  a  bottomless  manger  and  an  injured  horse  will 
occasionally  be  the  result.  The  top  rail  or  cap  of  the  man- 
ger and  rack  should  be  either  of  iron,  or  hard  wood  covered 
with  sheet-iron,  tin,  or  zinc,  so  as  to  prevent  the  horse 
from  gnawing  it  with  his  teeth  when  he  is  idle  or  restless. 
This  cap  rail,  to  which  the  halter-ring  is  to  be  fastened,  is 
firmly  fixed  at  each  end  into  the  travis  or  wall,  thus  pre- 
venting the  possibility  of  the  horse  in  his  endeavors  to  get 
loose  from  pulHng  the  ring  and  rail  with  him,  thereby 
injuring  the  stable  as  well  as  teaching  him  a  bad  lesson, 
especially  if  he  be  a  young  horse. 

The  stall-posts  or  bale-posts,  as  they  were  formerly 
called,  now  rarely  reach  from  the  ground  to  the  ceiling, 
but  are  from  five  to  seven  feet  high,  and  are  made  of  wood 
(usually  cedar)  or  of  cast-iron,  round  in  front,  with  a 
groove  in  the  back  of  them,  so  as  to  admit  the  ends  of  the 
boards  forming  the  stall  divisions.  These  posts,  whether 
of  iron  or  wood,  are  sometimes  very  attractive  in  their 
appearance,  from  the  ingenuity  displayed  on  them  by  the 
iron  moulder  or  wood  turner. 
3* 


28 


AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 


Cast-iron  posts  are  frequently  shattered  by  a  kick  of  a 
horse,  while  with  cedar  posts  this  rarely  or  never  occurs. 
From  our  experience  in  this  matter,  in  an  economical 
point  of  view,  we  find  the  wooden  posts  much  preferable, 
because  they  less  frequently  require  renewing,  and  are 
more  easily  replaced ;  for  the  pattern  of  the  iron  post  may 
be  lost,  requiring  the  making  of  a  new  pattern,  or  the  sub- 
stitution of  a  different  form,  thus  destroying  uniformity. 

The  Loose-Boxes  are  in  some  stables  the  substitutes 
for  stalls,  and  may  be  fitly  described  as  two  stalls  made  into 
one,  with  the  addition  only  of  a  partition  extending  along 
the  edge  of  the  gangway  behind  the  horse  as  he  stands  in 
the  stall :  in  a  word,  it  is  two  stalls  in  one,  fenced  or  closed 
in  on  all  sides,  with  a  door  to  each  box,  hung  on  hinges,  or, 
as  in  some  stables,  to  slide  or  run  on  rollers,  and  of  the  form 
represented  in  the  annexed  engraving. 


Door  for  Loose-Box. 


As  will  be  seen,  the  upper  portion  is  made  of  sparred 
work,  which  admits  the  air,  yet  prevents  the  horse  or  its 


LOOSE-BOXES.  29 

neighbor  from  interfering  with  each  other,  and  allows  the 
groom  to  see  into  the  box  without  opening  the  door. 
Where  circumstances  will  allow,  the  door  should  be  placed 
on  the  gangway  side,  and  not  in  another  box  or  stall. 
The  other  portions  of  the  fence  around  the  box  should,  like 
its  door,  be  of  solid  boards,  extending  up  to  about  two- 
thirds  of  its  height,  the  other  third  to  be  sparred  either 
with  wood,  iron  rods,  or  strong  wire-work,  screwed  or  nailed 
to  the  top  of  the  wooden  portion.  The  upper  portion  of 
spars  or  netting  is  inserted  in  a  flat  iron  or  wooden  bar, 
firmly  secured  to  the  front  travis  or  wall,  and  attached  to 
the  back  post  at  the  edge  of  the  gangway,  giving  strength 
to  the  whole  fixture.  To  give  strength  to  loose-boxes,  as 
is  now  done  in  our  finer  stables,  the  posts  or  travises  are 
made  of  sufficient  length  to  reach  up,  and  are  secured  to 
a  joist  in  the  ceiling  of  the  stable. 

The  advantages  of  loose-boxes  may  be  stated  to  con- 
sist in  giving  to  the  horse  more  liberty  of  action,  and  con- 
sequently a  more  natural  position  in  a  state  of  domestica- 
tion than  could  be  accorded  to  him  when  tied  by  the  head. 
Hence  the  excuse  of  the  Arab,  when  refusing  to  sell  or 
part  with  his  favorite  horse  for  gold,  that  the  European 
would  "  tie  Tiwi  close.''  How  abhorrent  to  the  mind  of  the 
sons  of  the  desert  that  the  winged  steed  should  be  tied  by 
the  head  after  a  life  spent  in  unrestrained  freedom  at  the 
side  of  its  dam — whether  on  the  oasis  of  the  desert  or  the 
pastures  of  Pennsylvania.  The  old,  stifi",  hard-worked  horse 
and  the  lymphatic  mare  are  alike  benefited  by  the  freedom 


30 


AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 


given  to  tliem  in  the  roomy  loose-box.  The  swelled  or 
filled  legs  of  sickly  and  debilitated  aninfals  are  greatly  sus- 
ceptible of  improvement  under  the  genial  influence  of  the 
gentle  exercise  in  the  box.  The  young,  the  old,  the  sick, 
and  the  well  are  benefited  by  the  freedom  and  movement 
thus  allowed,  that  cannot  be  gained  by  confinement,  tied 
by  the  head  in  a  five  or  six  feet  stall.  Many  a  valuable 
and   useful  horse,  under   sickness   or   sufi"ering   from   an 


Iron  Fittings  for  Stalls  and  Loosb-Box. 


accident,  has  been  lost  for  the  want  of  sufficient  space, 
which  is  found  in  the  modern  loose-box.  The  sick  horse 
requires  more  room  than  when  in  health.  As  an  agency 
for  the  prevention  and  cure  of  a  crib-biting  horse,  no  other 
contrivance  can  compare  with  it,  unless  it  be  the  pasture- 
field.  Especially  is  this  the  case  when  there  are  folding 
shutters  like  closet  doors,  covered  over  and  made  flush  with 
the  manger  and  hay-rack,  at  all  times  except  when  the 


LOOSE-BOXES.  31 

horse  is  feeding.  By  this  plan  no  projection  offers  for  him 
to  take  hold  of  by  his  mouth  in  order  to  suck  air  into  the 
stomach.  Thus,  with  regular  food  and  regular  work, 
together  with  his  home  in  a  loose-box,  the  horse  often 
entirely  forgets  his  former  very  injurious  habits.  Again, 
the  foot  cannot  get  over  the  halter  during  the  night,  nor 
is  the  horse  ever  found  cast,  and  unable  to  rise  when  the 
stableman  enters  in  the  morning;  yet  this  is  often  seen 
when  tied  to  the  manger  in  the  usual  way. 

The  loose-box  is  certainly  a  remedy  for  many  of  the  faults 
and  ills  to  which  horses  are  liable,  particularly  some  of  the 
vices  in  the  stable  and  those  affections  of  the  joints  arising 
from  narrow  stalls  and  hard  work. 

The  disadvantages  of  loose-boxes,  if  disadvantages 
we  may  call  them,  when  compared  with  the  advantages 
just  detailed,  are  not  many,  when  properly  considered. 
To  the  minds  of  some  persons,  however,  they  will  be  con- 
siderable, when  taking  into  account  the  extra  quantity  of 
straw  for  litter  or  bedding  that  is  required,  and  the  fact 
that  the  space  for  one  box  will  make  two  stalls.  These 
perhaps  are  sufficient  to  condemn  them,  if  economy  be 
the  rule  for  estimation  in  such  matters. 

The  "  quarters"  (hips)  of  horses  during  the  night  will 
frequently  be  found  to  be  badly  stained  from  lying  in  every 
position  on  their  excretions  evacuated  over  the  bedding  in 
all  parts  of  the  box.  This,  however,  is  not  always  the 
case,  for  many  horses  are  very  cleanly  in  their  habits,  as  is 


82  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

often  observed  by  tlie  manure  being  deposited  in  a  corner 
or  given  place. 

The  liability  of  horses  soiling  themselves  is  one  of  the 
chief  objections  of  the  stableman  to  the  use  of  loose-boxes, 
while  those  of  the  owner  are,  the  extra  space  occupied  by 
the  box,  and  the  greater  amount  of  bedding  required  to 
cover  it. 

Where  the  stableman  is  allowed  the  manure-money, 
little  fault  will  be  found  with  the  boxes,  because  of  the 
greater  conversion  of  straw  into  manure  to  be  tossed  into 
the  dung-pit  to  his  special  advantage. 

The  VENTILATION  of  stables  should  in  all  cases  be  so 
managed  that  draughts  of  cold  air  will  be  prevented  from 
blowing  against  any  of  the  horses.  All  stables,  however, 
are  not  sufficiently  and  properly  ventilated,  nor  is  there  a 
fixed  form  of  ventilation  adoj^ted  in  our  stables,  although 
it  does  not  necessarily  follow  that  all  our  fine  horses  are 
suffering  from  contaminated  air  and  foul  gases. 

Where  the  superficial  area  and  height  are  great,  and 
with  few  horses  in  the  stable  to  generate  foul  air,  little 
ventilation  will  be  required.  But  it  is  in  the  crowded  and 
small  stables  that  we  find  imperfect  ventilation.  It  is  now 
admitted  that  no  stable  should  have  less  than  from  800  to 
1000  cubit  feet  for  each  horse,  when  confined  in  stalls,  and 
from  1300  to  1500  for  each  loose-box. 

A  very  airy  stable  is  generally  so  high  that  it  is  difficult 
in  winter  to  keep  it  comfortable  for  either  man  or  horse. 
To  obviate  this  difficulty,  we  introduce  a  drawing  of  a  ven- 


VENTILATION. 


83 


tilating  shaft,  which  is  admissible  to  all  or  every  variety 
of  stable,  without  occupying  much  space  or  costing  a  great 
deal  of  money  for  the  material  and  construction ;  and, 
moreover,  its  utility  rests  upon  true  principles  of  ventila- 
tion by  its  situation  and  capacity  to  carry  off  the  foul  air, 


Ventilating  Shaft. 

presuming  always  that  sufficient  air  is  admitted  into  the 
stable  nearer  the  ground  by  the  doors  and  windows,  and 
registers  placed  in  the  walls.  These  registers  or  louvres  are 
made  on  the  same  principle  as  those  in  dwellings  where  fur- 
naces are  used.  Instead  of  a  multiplicity  of  tubes  in  a  stable 
corresponding  to  the  number  of  horses,  one  will  answer,  if 
of  sufficient  capacity  and  properly  placed,  with  its  mouth 


34  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

entering  into  the  stall  through  the  ceiling.  Thus  it  will 
be  seen  that  when  one  of  these  ventilating  shafts  is  in 
place,  a  constant  current  is.  kept  up  between  it  and  the 
registers  below.  This  ventilator  is  of  wood,  made  like  a 
square  funnel,  carried  up  through  the  hay-loft  or  upper 
portion  of  the  stable  and  the  roof  to  the  outside,  and  to  pre- 
vent a  down  draught  of  air,  snow,  or  rain,  a  "  cowl,'^  some- 
times called  an  "  archimedian  ventilator,"  turning  with  the 
wind,  is  placed  on  top  of  the  end  of  the  shaft.  For  this 
purpose,  one  made  of  wood,  and  covered  with  sheet  tin  or 
zinc,  like  the  pattern  here  represented,  will  answer  all  pur- 


Head  of  Shaft. 

poses.  It  will  be  readily  recognised  from  its  shape,  so 
often  seen  in  many  parts  of  the  country  upon  the  roofs  of 
buildings. 

In  a  badly-ventilated  stable,  in  the  fall  or  spring  of  the 
year,  its  inmates  will  be  fevered  and  sick.  Coughs,  colds, 
lung  fever,  scratches,  grease,  influenza,  farcy,  glanders, 
and  other  zymotic  afi'ections,  are  some  of  the  concomi- 
tants of  impure  air  in  ill-ventilated  places.  Pure  air  is  so 
indispensable  to  animal  life,  that  a  high  condition  of  health 


VENTILATION.  35 

cannot  long  be  maintained  without  its  agency.  The  Black 
Hole,  at  Calcutta  is  an  admonition  in  favor  of  proper  or 
sufficient  ventilation. 

The  horses  which  were  confined  only  for  a  few  hours  on 
board  of  ships  in  the  military  expeditions,  sent  out  by  the 
British  government  to  Quiberon  and  Varna,  when  the 
storm  compelled  the  hatches  tc  be  put  down,  were  almost 
invariably  affected  with  glanders.  We  mention  these 
occurrences,  because  Mr.  A.  B.  Allen,  editor  of  Stewart's 
book,  affects  to  doubt  that  bad  ventilation  could  produce 
those  affections  amongst  the  horses  on  board,  by  stating  as 
his  opinion,  that  the  animals  were  diseased  when  put  on  the 
ships.  Mr.  Stewart  was  right  in  his  remarks  on  the  cause 
of  the  sickness ;  and  Mr.  Allen  has  simply  shown,  that  he 
is  incapable  of  tracing  effect  to  its  cause  when  he  penned 
his  assertion,  doubting  the  opinion  of  a  man  who,  in  his 
day,  had  but  few  equals  as  a  veterinary  surgeon  and 
writer. 

Moreover,  the  views  expressed  by  Mr.  Stewart  thirty 
years  ago,  are  substantiated  by  science  and  experience  at 
the  present  day.  The  analyses  of  impure  and  pure  air  have 
shown  us  a  difference,  that  few  persons,  even  in  our  time 
have  anticipated.  The  fact  is,  that  the  condensed  air  of  a 
crowded  place  where  animals  are  kept,  gives  a  deposit, 
which,  if  allowed  to  remain  on  the  walls  and  fixtures  for  a 
few  days,  forms  a  solid,  thick,  glutinous  mass,  having  a 
strong  odor  of  animal  matter,  which,  if  examined  by  the 
microscope,  is  seen  to  undergo  a  remarkable  change,  by  its 
4 


36  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

being  converted  into  a  vegetable  growth,  wliicb  is  followed 
by  the  production  of  innumerable  animalcules ;  a  clear 
proof  that  it  contains  organic  matter,  otherwise  it  could  not 
nourish  organic  beings.  This  is  the  result  of  the  beautiful 
experiments  of  Dr.  Angus  Smith,  where  he  showed  how 
the  lungs  and  skin  gave  out  organic  matter,  which  is  in 
itself  a  deadly  poison,  producing  zymotic  and  epidemic  dis- 
ease according  to  its  strength.  So  potent  is  it  for  iujury, 
that  if  a  drop  of  the  liquid  matter  obtained  by  the  conden- 
sation of  the  air  of  a  foul  place  be  introduced  into  the  vein 
of  a  dog,  it  will  produce  death  with  the  usual  phenomena 
of  typhus  fever.  Ventilation  and  cleanliness  are  the  only 
remedies  for  this  evil,  acting  not  as  miracles,  but  in  accord- 
ance with  natural  laws,  the  disobedience  of  which  is  sick- 
ness, and  perhaps  premature  death. 

The  lighting  of  stables  is  a  matter  of  much  moment 
for  the  maintenance  of  health,  and  the  prevention  of  dis- 
ease among  men  and  horses.  We  are  told  that  institutions 
of  the  old  world  can  show  by  statistics,  the  immunity  from 
disease  of  the  inmates  on  the  light  side  of  the  building, 
while  those  confined  on  the  dark  side  are  more  frequently 
affected,  and  more  liable  to  sickness.  The  lighting  of  sta- 
bles, like  other  buildings  in  large  cities,  is  at  all  times  or 
situations  no  easy  matter,  as  was  mentioned  when  speak- 
ing of  windows.  There  seems  to  be  an  inherent  prejudice 
existing  against  stables  with  lights  facing,  and  the  horses 
looking  towards  the  dwellings  or  property  of  others  not 
interested  in  the  stable  or  its  stock.     To  obviate  this  diffi- 


LIGHTING — TEMPERATURE.  37 

culty,  let  the  windows  already  shown  be  adopted,  or  borrow 
from  the  heavens  by  means  of  skylights,  either  fixed  or 
movable.  Where  ventilation  is  good,  immovable  skylights 
will  answer,  but  when  this  is  not  the  case,  the  lights  may 
be  made  movable  by  hinges,  with  cords  by  which  to  open 
and  shut  them  at  will,  or  durin";  storms.  A  dark  stable 
is  usually  a  dirty  and  ill-ventihited  one,  prone  to  produce 
diseases  of  a  typhoid  or  low  condition  of  the  vis  vitse.  The 
light  of  the  sun  admitted  into  a  stable,  is  as  potent  in  pre- 
serving animals  in  health,  as  darkness  is  in  the  cause  of 
decay  and  disease.  The  dose  of  sunshine  is  as  regularly 
prescribed,  and  with  as  much  benefit  by  the  physician  in 
certain  afi"ections,  as  any  article  in  the  pharmacopoeia. 

The  temperature  is  an  important  matter  in  the  man- 
agement of  places  where  animals  are  kept,  yet  the  ther- 
mometer is  an  instrument  seldom  consulted,  even  if  it  finds 
a  place.  This  should  not  be,  especially  in  a  climate  such 
as  ours,  where  we  have  the  mercury  at  zero  at  one  hour  of 
the  day,  and  at  another  20°  to  30°  above  it.  The  difficulty 
in  regulating  the  temperature,  or  rather  in  keeping  the 
degree  of  heat  in  winter  up  to  the  summer  standard,  is 
more  apparent  than  real,  even  if  it  were  necessary. 

The  stable  temperature  of  summer  being  from  70°  to 
90°,  would  obviously  not  only  be  unnecessary,  but  highly 
injurious  to  the  horses  in  winter,  with  the  thermometer 
indicating  zero  in  the  open  air.  Coughs,  colds,  staring 
coats  and  chills,  swelled  legs,  and  a  train  of  other  ills, 
would  be  of  constant  occurrence,  and  some  of  the  horses 


38  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

perhaps,  like  the  exotic  or  hot-house  plant,  would  succumb 
to  the  inexorable  law  of  nature,  when  by  accident  or  other- 
wise they  were  exposed  to  the  frosts  and  chilling  blasts  of 
December.  In  winter,  the  temperature  of  the  stable  for 
safety  and  comfort  to  the  horses  when  out-doors,  should 
not  exceed  40°  to  50°  of  Fahrenheit's  thermometer. 

But  the  groom  will  say  the  coats  on  the  horses  will  not 
lie  well.  "What  of  that,  when  it  is  a  provision  of  nature 
to  give  them  a  coat  for  protection  ?  and  moreover,  in  win- 
ter horses  are  even  more  able  to  do  their  work  with  the 
long  coat  of  hair  on,  than  they  are  with  the  short  and 
glossy  one  in  summer.  The  greater  the  heat  of  the  stable 
in  winter,  the  more  tender  will  the  horses  be,  and  conse- 
quently the  greater  the  liability  to  disease.  But  in  our 
desire  to  avoid  unnecessary  exposure  of  the  horse,  care 
should  be  taken  not  to  have  the  temperature  too  low ; 
for  then  the  horses  will  lose  condition,  and  consume  more 
food  to  keep  them  in  flesh  or  working  order  and  to  supply 
the  caloric  of  the  body  required  in  a  greater  degree  when 
exposed  or  stabled  in  too  low  a  temperature. 

The  risk  of  disease  being  produced  in  horses  by  sudden 
transition  from  heat  to  cold,  is  by  no  means  so  great  in 
summer  as  the  sudden  exposure  to  the  cold  from  the  heated 
stable  in  winter;  bearing  in  mind,  however,  that  from  cold 
to  heat  is  as  prolific  in  the  production  of  disease  as  the 
reverse.  But  as  we  have  said,  the  risk  is  not  so  great  in 
summer,  from  the  difficulty  or  almost  impossibility  of  find- 
ing a  situation  in  mid-summer,  except  it  be  in  a  draught 


TEMPERATURE SLEEPING-ROOM.  39 

between  two  doors,  where  the  cold  would  be  such  as  to  give 
rise  to  disease.  This,  then,  is  the  chief  reason  of  the  more 
perfect  immunity  from  chills,  leading  to  thoracic  diseases 
in  summer,  amongst  horses,  and  at  the  same  time  illustrates 
why  it  is  that  from  the  heated  stable  in  winter,  horses  are 
more  subject  to  influenza,  pleurisy,  pneumonia,  &c.  How 
necessary,  then,  is  it,  that  a  thermometer,  properly  protected 
from  injury,  should  be  placed  in  every  stable  where  valu- 
able horses  are  kept,  and  the  keeper  instructed  in  its  use — 
charging  him  that  the  mercury  be  kept  at  a  given  place  in 
the  tube  during  the  day,  and  at  something  higher  during 
the  night  ?  The  standard  or  relation  of  the  heat  of  the 
stable  to  the  open  air  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  night  and 
day,  is  so  difficult  to  attain  and  control,  that  we  could  only 
approximate  to  it  were  an  attempt  made  to  give  figures ; 
but  we  would  say  that  the  stable  should  be  10°  to  20° 
warmer  in  winter  than  the  open  air,  and  in  summer  per- 
haps as  much  cooler,  which  can  only  be  done  by  door  or 
window  currents  of  air,  or  placing  horses  underground  in 
cellar  stables,  with  a  northern  exposure  of  the  building,  or 
where  the  rays  of  the  sun  do  not  strike  its  walls. 

The  sleeping-room  over  the  stable  is  of  so  much 
importance  in  stable  management,  when  properly  conducted 
in  its  various  details,  that  few  persons  will  run  the  risk  of 
their  horses  getting  loose  from  their  stalls  during  the  night, 
without  some  one  in  the  building  to  secure  them  before  any 
injury  is  done  to  horse  or  stable  by  kicking  and  biting,  as 
is  often  the  case,  when  no  one  is  on  the  premises  to  inter- 
4* 


40  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

fere.  How  often  is  it  that  the  horse  is  attacked  with  windy 
colic,  unknown  to  any  one  during  the  night,  and  is  found 
dead  in  the  stable  in  the  morning — the  halter  broken — the 
stable  injured,  and  not  unfrequently  others  of  the  horses' 
legs  bruised,  broken  and  swollen,  from  kicks  received  from 
the  sick  horse  in  his  agonizing  struggles  ?  To  enumerate 
the  various  accidents  happening  to  horses  during  the  night, 
that  could  be  avoided  by  a  person  sleeping  over  the  stable, 
would  be  unnecessary,  and  take  up  too  much  of  our  space. 
Therefore,  we  would  enjoin  upon  the  owners  of  fine  horses 
to  have  a  sleeping-room  provided  in  the  stable,  where  all 
unusual  sounds  could  be  heard  by  its  occupant,  and  acci- 
dents thereby  be  prevented.  This  is  the  only  security  for 
the  night,  where  horses  are  kept.  The  stranger  on  the 
street  or  the  patrolman  on  his  beat,  will  very  seldom  pay 
much  attention  to  the  sounds  of  the  plunging  and  kicking 
of  the  horses  in  a  stable,  though  the  animals  may  be  valu- 
able ;  and  perhaps  the  struggle  for  life  itself  will  in  the 
morning  find  one  or  more  of  them  dead  or  disabled.  We 
have  known  several  instances,  where  during  the  night, 
neighbors  have  gone  in  search  of  the  owner  or  his  stable- 
man, to  inform  them  of  unusual  sounds  coming  from  the 
stable,  and  were  thus  instrumental  in  preventing  accident 
and  saving  life. 

The  CARRIAGE-HOUSE  OR  ROOM  is  mostly  under  the 
same  roof  with  the  stable,  and  divided  from  it  by  a  parti- 
tion of  boards,  bricks,  or  lime  and  plaster ;  a  door  for  com- 
munication being  made  in  the  manner  or  place  as  exhibited 
in  the  ground  plan  of  a  stable  here  presented,  capable  of 


THE    CARRIAGE-HOUSE. 


41 


holding  five  horses,  three  ordinary  sized  carriages,  harness, 
and  saddles  sufficient  for  the  establishment. 


Ground  Plan  of  Phillips's  Stable. — A,  Stalls  ;  B,  Hay-rack;  C,  Carriage-house; 
D,  Doors ;  E,  Closet  for  harness,  with  glass  doors ;  F,  Stairs  to  the  hay-loft,  &c. ; 
G,  Manger;  H,  Stench-trap;  W,  Windows. 


There  is  nothing  suggestive  about  the  coach-house  re- 
quiring notice,  except  that  it  be  kept  dry  and  clean,  and 
that  the  communicating  door  be  always  kept  closed,  as  the 
ammonia  and  gas  from  the  horses  in  the  stable  are  very 
injurious  to  the  paint  and  varnish  on  the  carriages.  For 
the  purpose  of  heating  and  keeping  this  apartment  dry,  we 
will,  when  speaking  of  an  apparatus  for  the  steaming  of 
feed  for  the  horses,  refer  to  a  plan  that  can  be  adopted 


42  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

i 

without  the  use  of  the  ordinary  stove  now  in  common  use. 
As  elsewhere  stated,  a  portion  of  this  section  of  the  stable 
requires  to  be  flagged  or  paved  with  stone  or  brick,  upon 
which  the  carriage  stands  when  it  is  being  washed.  This 
portion  of  the  floor  also  should  be  sloped  inward  froni 
its  margins  to  the  centre,  where  is  placed  an  iron  rack  or 
perforated  plate,  through  which  the  waste  water  falls  into 
the  proper  channel  leading  to  the  sewer  or  tank. 

The  harness-room  or  closet  is  the  third  division  or 
apartment  on  the  ground-floor  of  the  stable,  and  requires 
no  special  remark,  further  than  that  all  such  places  should 
be  kept  clean,  dry,  and  with  an  ample  supply  of  wooden 
pins  or  iron  hooks  upon  which  to  hang  the  harness.  The 
harness-closets  should,  for  dryness  and  cleanliness,  be  a 
portion  of  the  carriage-house  where  the  influences  of  the 
stable  cannot  reach  its  contents ;  for  the  gai^es  of  stables  are 
extremely  ifijurious  to  carriage-robes,  mats,  and  leather  of 
all  kinds.  Indeed,  the  harness-room  may,  in  some  instances 
at  least,  be  properly  called  the  "smoking-room;"  and  for 
which  purpose,  when  it  has  a  place  for  everything  and 
everything  in  its  place,  no  valid  argument  or  objection  can 
be  raised  against  such  use,  but  something  may  be  urged  in 
its  favor,  by  insuring  for  it  and  all  that  is  in  it  a  more  tidy 
appearance  than  perhaps  would  otherwise  be  accorded  to 
it  at  all  times  were  it  exclusively  used  for  harness  and 
saddles. 


CHAPTER  II. 

STABLES  OF  DIFFERENT  KINDS. 
The  Club,  Livery,  Sale,  Racing,  Railroad,  and  Farm  Stables. 

The  variety  of  stables  that  we  now  propose  to  lay  under 
contribution  cannot,  from  their  diversity,  be  described  as 
one,  or  as  a  sample  of  its  class,  even  in  one  city  or  town, 
not  to  speak  of  a  much  greater  disparity  when  embracing 
the  whole  of  the  country.  To  attempt  to  describe  a  livery 
or  sale  stable,  as  it  appears  or  is  managed  in  one  part  of 
the  city,  would  be  a  work  of  supererogation,  as  it  would  or 
could  not  apply  to  others  diiferently  situated  and  managed. 
To  the  groom  more  than  to  any  other  agency  may  be 
ascribed  the  uniformity  of  management  in  the  stable  of  the 
gentleman  throughout  the  country,  and  to  the  architect 
and  builder,  together  with  other  circumstances,  such  as 
the  means  or  taste  of  the  owner,  do  we  ascribe  the  uni- 
formity and  style  of  stables  in  one  city  and  the  difference 
which  may  exist  in  the  stables  of  another. 

The  stable  and  its  management  claiming  the  most  per- 
fection in  our  view  of  what  a  stable  and  proper  care  of  a 

(43) 


44  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

horse  should   be,  and  next  to  that  of  the  gentleman,  is 
the 


Club  Stable 


which  is  so  called,  because  a  number  of  gentlemen,  each 
having  but  one  or  two  horses,  unite  together  in  keeping 
it,  because  of  the  difficulty  of  procuring  a  proper  place 
where  the  best  of  care  can  be  given  outside  of  a  private 
stable;  or  it  may  be  with  a  desire  for  privacy,  which  is 
not  accorded  to  them  at  a  livery  stable.  In  some  instances 
it  is  the  greater  protection  of  the  purse  that  has  led  to  the 
establishment  of  the  club  stable.  This  last,  of  itself,  is  no 
inconsiderable  matter,  remembering  as  we  do,  the  extrava- 
gant charges  at  livery  for  the  keep  of  horses,  and  the  kind 
of  care  and  protection  which  in  some  livery  stables  is  given 
to  them — which  is  not  commensurate  with  the  present 
charges  of  from  thirty  to  thirty-five  dollars  a  month  per 
horse,  while  oats  are  selling  at  from  sixty-five  to  seventy 
cents  per  bushel.  It  would  be  an  easy  matter  to  estimate 
to  a  cent  the  difi"erence  of  profit  and  loss  resulting  from 
club  and  livery  stabling — if  we  could  but  know  the  rental 
or  interest  on  the  money  invested  in  the  purchase  of  the 
club  stable,  as  well  as  on  how  many  persons  the  pro  rata 
would  have  to  be  assessed.  We  are  inclined,  however,  on 
the  side  of  profit,  not  to  speak  of  other  matters  pertaining 
to  the  club,  to  give  preference  to  this  kind  of  stabling. 
A  horse  can  be  fed  on  any  particular  kind  of  feed,  and  in 
any  quantity  the   owner  may  desire,  which  can  only  be 


THE    CLUB    STABLE.  45 

done  in  the  private  and  club  stable.  Indeed,  we  can  urge 
no  good  reason  against  this  syestm  of  stabling,  as  it  is  pre- 
ferable under  all  circumstances  to  any  other  plan  now  in 
use. 

For  the  guidance  of  those  who  may  contemplate  an  asso- 
ciation of  this  kind,  we  refer  to  the  following  series  of 
rules  and  regulations,  well  adapted  for  the  government 
of  a  club  stable.  So  good  are  they  that  they  have  stood 
the  test  of  time,  and  given  satisfaction  to  horsemen  for 
many  years.  Though  (by  provision)  any  article  may  be 
changed  when  found  necessary,  yet  to  this  date  they 
remain  intact. 

PREAMBLE. 

We,  the  subscribers,  have  formed  ourselves  into  an  associa- 
tion for  the  purpose  of  keeping  a  stable,  and  for  the  govern- 
ment thereof,  have  agreed  upon  the  following  rules  and  regu- 
lations, to  wit : — 

ARTICLE  I. 

The  style  and  title  of  our  association  shall  be  known  as  the 
Club  Stable. 


ARTICLE  II. 

A  regular  stated  meeting  of  the  members  shall  be  held  at 

the    stable,   on    the    of  every  month.     Notice    shall   be 

posted  in  the  stable days  previous  to  meeting,  and  each 

member  failing  to  attend  shall  be  fined  $ — ,  if  not  present 
minutes  after  the  time  of  meeting. 

ARTICLE  III. 

members  shall  constitute  a  quorum  for  the  trans- 
action of  business,  and  a  chairman  and  secretary  shall  be 
chosen  at  each  meeting. 


46  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 


ARTICLE  IV. 

The  number  of  members  and  stalls,  and  the  number  of  vehi- 
cles to  each  stall.  The  purpose  of  the  association  being 
entirely  for  the  keeping  of  horses,  and  vehicles  for  pleasure, 
no  person  keeping  cars,  carts,  or  wagons  for  hire,  nor  shall 
any  doctor,  be  entitled  to  become  a  member  of  this  association. 

ARTICLE  V. 

No  person  shall  be  admitted  a  member  of  this  association, 
unless  he  shall  receive  two-thirds  of  the  votes  of  the  members 
present,  nor  shall  any  member  be  expelled  unless  two-thirds 
of  the  members  present  shall  vote  for  expulsion.  The  vote 
upon  election  or  expulsi9n  shall  be  by  ballot.  Upon  the  elec- 
tion of  a  member,  he  shall  pay  $ —  initiation  fee. 

ARTICLE  VI. 

A  caterer  shall  be  elected  from  among  the  number,  who 
shall  continue  in  office  till  his  resignation  or  dismissal  for  non- 
attendance  to  his  duties. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

It  shall  be  the  caterer's  duty  to  procure  provender,  to  hire 
and  superintend  the  hostlers,  to  receive  the  monthly  assess- 
ments and  fines,  to  give  notice  of  the  monthly  meetings,  to  keep 
accounts  of  all  receipts  and  expenditures,  and  to  present  said 
account  at  each  regular  meeting. 

ARTICLE  vni. 

At  the  regular  meeting,  the  assessments  for  the  keep  of  each 
horse  for  the  ensuing  month  shall  be  fixed.  It  shall  be  the 
duty  of  each  member  to  pay  his  proportion  to  the  caterer 
within  one  week  from  the  time  of  said  meeting,  and  on  failing 
to  do  so  shall  be  subject  to  a  fine  of  $ —  for  each  horse,  which 
shall  be  doubled  each  week  until  paid. 


THE    CLUB    STABLE.  47 


ARTICLE  IX. 

Each  horse  shall  receive  an  equal  quantity  of  food,  and  in 
case  an}'^  member  shall  desire  a  larger  quantity  given  his  horse, 
he  shall  be  charged  with  the  same  ;  but  no  allowance  shall  be 
made  for  feeding  less  than  the  regular  quantity.  If  any  mem- 
ber shall  remove  his  horse  for  any  time  exceeding  one  week, 
an  allowance  for  feed  shall  be  made  on  his  assessment,  pro- 
vided he  gives  the  caterer  notice  at  the  time  the  horse  leaves 
and  returns. 

ARTICLE  X. 

No  horse  having  a  contagious  disease  will  be  allowed  in  the 
stable,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  owner  of  said  horse  to 
remove  him  as  soon  as  the  same  is  known,  and  should  he 
refuse,  a  meeting  of  the  members  shall  be  called  by  the  caterer, 
when  steps  shall  be  taken  for  his  immediate  removal,  and  at 
the  next  regular  meeting  the  said  member  shall  be  expelled. 

ARTICLE  XI. 

In  order  to  settle  misunderstandings  between  two  members 
in  matters  appertaining  to  the  stable,  each  shall  choose  a 
member  of  the  association,  by  whom  a  third  shall  be  chosen, 
who  shall  act  as  arbitrators,  and  after  an  impartial  hearing 
of  the  matter  in  dispute,  their  decision  shall  be  binding. 

ARTICLE  XII. 

Any  person  wishing  to  resign  from  the  association  shall 
give  written  notice  to  the  caterer  at  least  one  week  prior  to 
the  regular  meeting,  and  then,  if  his  proportion  of  expenses  be 
fully  paid,  his  resignation  shall  be  accepted,  and  the  stall  dis- 
posed of  by  the  association  to  such  party  as  may  after 

weeks  previous  to  the  regular  meeting  receive  two-thirds  of  the 
votes  of  the  members  present,  thereby  becoming  a  member. 

5 


48  AMERICAN    STABLE    CxTJIDE. 


ARTICLE  XIII. 

In  case  a  member  shall  sell  his  stall  and  propose  the  party 

purchasing  it  in  his  place  for  membership, weeks'  notice 

must  be  given.  In  case  said  party  shall  not  be  elected,  then 
the  association  reserves  the  right  of  taking  said  stall  at  a  valu- 
ation by  referees  appointed,  as  in  article  eleven.  The  referee 
of  the  association  shall  be  selected  at  the  regular  meeting. 
In  case  of  expulsion,  the  stall  shall  be  taken  by  the  association, 
at  a  valuation  by  the  referees  selected  as  above. 

ARTICLE  XIV. 

No  member  is  allowed  to  give  a  fee  or  perquisite  to  the 
hostlers,  their  wages  being  a  full  equivalent  for  their  services. 

ARTICLE  XV. 

No  member  shall  give  or  sell  the  use  of  his  stall  to  a  person 
not  a  member  of  this  association,  unless  he  obtains  the  consent 

of  members,  and   then  at  the  regular  meeting,  if  such 

assent  is  not  confirmed  by  two-thirds  of  the  votes  of  the  mem- 
bers present,  such  horse  must  be  removed.  In  case  of  refusal 
to  remove  by  said  member,  proceedings  must  be  taken  as  in 
Article  X. 

ARTICLE  XVI. 

Should  any  member  refuse  to  comply  with  these  articles  he 
may  be  expelled. 

ARTICLE  XVII. 

Any  of  the  foregoing  articles  may  be  altered  or  amended 
and  new  articles  introduced,  with  the  consent  of  two-thirds  of 
the  members  present. 

Any  person  who  does  not  object  to  an  agreement  such 
as  is  embraced  in  the  articles  just  quoted,  and  possessed 
with  a  reasonable  amount  of  sociability  and  judgment  of 


THE    CLUB    STABLE.  49 

human  nature,  cannot  fail  to  find  everything  well  suited 
to  the  care  of  his  horses  and  carriage,  in  a  stable  conducted 
by  gentlemen  willing  to  be  guided  by  such  provisions  of 
stable  management,  having  the  control  of  feeding,  groom- 
ing, &c.,  with  power  of  dismissing  .an  incompetent  person 
employed,  and  the  substitution  of  a  more  accomplished  one. 

An  establishment  so  conducted  is  as  comfortable  for  the 
owner  and  his  horse,  and  as  exclusive  as  though  in  a  private 
stable,  and  at  a  cost  much  less  than  in  any  other  stable  or 
by  any  other  plan.  A  better  class  of  grooms  is  always  to 
be  found  than  is  seen  in  the  livery  stable,  which,  to  speak 
the  truth,  are  the  lowest  kind  of  persons,  with  no  responsi- 
bility, and  usually  never  to  be  relied  upon.  Even  the 
hand  in  the  purse-pocket  fails  to  produce  service  in  a  satis- 
factory manner :  either  horse,  harness,  or  carriage  will  be 
neglected.  The  partiality  of  the  livery-stable  groom  for  the 
liberal  person  to  the  injury  of  others,  finds  no  place  in  the 
stables  of  the  club  or  private  gentleman.  There  is  no 
safety  for  a  first-class  horse,  carriage,  &c.,  outside  of  the 
club  and  private  establishment  of  the  owner,  managed  and 
superintended  by  direction  of  a  superior  mind. 

The  club  stable,  as  conducted  in  Philadelphia,  possesses 
all  the  advantages  of  livery  stables,  with  few  of  their  draw- 
backs, and  with  all  the  advantages  of  the  stable  of  the 
gentleman,  and  at  a  much  less  expense  or  trouble  to  him- 
self in  the  daily  duty  of  a  personal  visit,  and  in  some 
instances  of  an  examination  of  the  affairs  of  the  stable. 
The  pay  of  the  hostlers  or  grooms,  the  rent  of  the  stable, 


50  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

and  all  matters  coonected  therewith,  except  it  be  the  feed, 
is  assessed  in  equal  proportions  among  the  members,  and  no 
more  is  paid  for  the  haj,  oats,  &c.,  than  is  consumed  or 
fed  to  the  horse.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  for  a  small 
expense,  a  gentleman  can  keep  his  horse  with  the  advan- 
tages of  a  private  stable,  escape  the  extortions  and  dis- 
comforts of  a  livery  stable,  and  insure  proper  attention  and 
comfort  to  his  horse  and  care  for  his  carriage  and 
harness. 

The  livery  stable  is  an  institution  of  our  country 
that  we  cannot  boast  of  either  in  buildings,  accommodations 
for  horses,  or  their  safety.  If,  as  is  already  shown, 
the  superiority  of  horse  management  exists  with  us  in  the 
stable  of  the  private  gentleman,  or  the  association  of  the 
club  is  above  that  of  the  cities  of  the  Old  World,  the  same 
claim  cannot  be  advanced  in  favor  of  the  livery  stables  of  the 
New  World.  The  livery  stable  is  a  place  where  horses  are 
kept  at  a  certain  rate  per  horse,  by  the  day,  week,  or  month. 
If  the  accommodations  for  the  horse  and  the  care  of  har- 
ness and  carriage  were  as  well  defined  as  the  charge  for 
them,  perhaps  not  much  could  be  truthfully  said  against 
them.  But,  not  unlike  the  horse  cars  on  a  stormy  night, 
*'  more  room  inside"  when  not  a  foot  of  standing-place  can 
be  had,  crowding  and  jostling  in  one  confused  mass  together, 
true  to  the  principles  of  the  avaricious,  and  of  some 
corporations,  like  unto  the  "  Old  Sexton,"  their  song 
always  is 

(I  i^Q  gather  them  in,  we  gather  thera  in,'* 


THE    LIVERY    STABLE.  51 

until  at  last  there  is  room  for  none,  and  discomfort  for  all. 
It  may  be  asked  why  the  livery  system  of  keeping  horses 
is  so  distasteful  to  us  ?  This  can  only  be  answered  by  per- 
sonal experience  and  observation,  and  comparison  of  other 
establishments  of  a  more  private  character.  It  is  an 
always  understood  principle  of  trade,  that  a  person  gets 
what  he  pays  for,  whether  it  be  a  peck  of  oats  or  a  bale  of 
goods;  but  in  the  feed  of  a  horse  at  livery,  the  promise 
must  be  taken  for  the  performance — the  shadow  for  the 
substance. 

There  are,  however,  some  good  livery  stables  amongst 
us,  but  they  are  an  exception  ;  and  if  it  were  not  con- 
sidered invidious,  we  would  with  pleasure  give  the 
names  and  locations  of  them  in  the  principal  cities  of  the 
seaboard.  This  only  can  be  the  excuse  for  our  silence  in 
the  exceptions  just  alluded  to.  To  have  a  horse  at  livery 
is  to  subject  him  to  sickness  brought  to  the  stable  by 
horses  from  all  parts  of  the  country,  and  suffering  from 
infectious  and  contagious  diseases.  This  is  one  explana- 
tion of  the  prevalence  of  epizootic  disease  in  the  livery 
stable,  when  found  or  seen  nowhere  else  at  the  same  time. 
The  livery  stable,  like  the  tenement  house,  is  the  nursery 
for  the  production  of  disease.  The  horse  for  sale  or 
exchange  is  here  brought  to  be  disposed  of,  not  unusually 
diseased,  and  no  one  daring  to  say  a  word  against  it  or  to 
inform  the  patrons  of  the  stable,  till  other  horses  in  the 
livery  have  the  same  disease  ;  then  the  veterinary  surgeon 
is  sent  for,  and  is  perhaps  the  first  to  detect  the  source 
5* 


62  AMERICAX    STABLE    GUIDE. 

from  whence  the  sickness  came.  When  the  mischief  is 
done,  all  sorts  of  excuses  are  made  ;  •'  no  one  to  blame;"  the 
head  man  declares  himself  entirely  ignorant  of  the  bring- 
ing of  such  a  horse  to  the  stable,  and  by  way  of  sympathy 
for  the  loss,  a  new  horse  is  at  once  offered  that  would  just 
suit  instead  of  the  one  lost.  The  law  of  supply  and 
demand  in  the  livery  stable  is  well  understood.  We 
may  be  wrong,  but  have  often  said  that  it  is  not  the  desire 
of  the  keeper  of  a  livery,  sale,  or  exchange  stable,  that  the 
horse  of  a  gentleman  of  means  (having  use  and  a  taste  for 
horses)  should  live  and  get  over  whatever  disease  the 
animal  may  have  had,  as  an  opening  is  thus  made  for  a 
sale  which  could  not  be  effected  had  it  lived  and  got 
entirely  well  again.  There  are  more  horses  destroyed 
from  want  of  care  and  good  management  in  the  livery,  sale, 
or  exchange  stables  of  Philadelphia,  than  from  all  other 
places  and  stables  combined,  but  from  what  cause,  we 
would  have  others  inquire.  The  great  expense  of  horse 
feed  ;  the  over-crowded  condition  of  the  place  ;  bad  ventila- 
tion, light  and  drainage  ;  lazy,  indolent,  drunken,  low-priced 
men  kept  for  grooms,  in  some  of  these  stables,  are  sufficient 
to  create  disease  among  horses.  At  livery,  almost  all  the 
pleasure-horses  leave  the  stable  at  one  or  near  the  same 
time  and  return  about  the  same — thus  throwing  too  many 
warm  and  exhausted  horses  upon  the  too  few  and  inex- 
perienced hands.  Some  are  left  to  cool  in  the  open  air,  or 
perhaps  in  a  draught — a  chill  is  produced,  lung  fever  sets 
in,  and  death  or  a  thick-winded  horse  is  the  consequence. 


THE  LIVERY  STABLE.  53 

We  have  said  nothing  as  to  the  care  the  harness  and  car- 
riages receive  in  such  places,  the  jarring  them  together, 
scratching  the  paint  and  varnish,  trampling  of  the  shafts 
by  the  feet  of  horses,  and  men  totally  indifferent  to  all 
surroundings — suggestive  of  an  understanding  with  the 
harness-maker  and  carriage-builder. 

The  subject  of  livery  stables  is  not  an  interesting  one, 
and  we  feel  sorry  that  we  can  see  nothing  in  their  manage- 
ment to  be  recommended  and  adopted  in  the  care  of  horses 
and  carriages,  while  there  is  much  to  avoid  and  condemn. 
A  remedy  for  this  state  of  things  in  the  livery  stable  can 
only  be  brought  about  by  a  stricter  observance  of  those 
laws  of  nature,  the  violation  of  which  entails  their  just  and 
sure  punishment,  but  unfortunately  not  always  upon  the 
cause  of  their  violation. 

The  keeper  must  be  a  man  of  temperate,  business  habits, 
conducting  his  stable  affairs  honestly  and  impartially 
toward  his  patrons.  .A  set  of  wise  and  good  rules  should  be 
framed  and  enforced,  under  pain  of  dismissal  for  disobedi- 
ence of  them  J  employ  and  pay  good  and  capable  stable- 
men ;  allow  the  full  measure  of  feed  to  the  horses,  and  if 
this  cannot  be  profitably  done  at  the  prices  charged,  make 
this  known  in  an  intelligible  manner  to  the  owners,  and  if 
assured  of  good  treatment  (which  is  true  economy)  each 
will  pay  better  prices,  and  thus  insure  the  comfort  of  his 
favorite  horse.  Rather  reach  the  pocket  of  a  gentleman 
by  a  plain  statement  than  by  the  stomach  of  a  hungry 
horse ;  make  the  patrons  feel  by  word  and  deed  that  their 


54  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

horses  are  as  well  cared  for  in  his  stable,  so  fiir  as  feed  and 
comfort  are  concerned,  as  in  the  stable  of  the  owner.  The 
advantages  alluded  to  in  our  review  of  the  club  stable,  are 
not  for  the  owners  of  several  horses,  but  to  such  as  own 
but  one  horse — as  the  physician,  the  baker,  the  grocer,  or 
the  butcher — as  it  saves  the  expense  of  a  separate  stable 
and  groom  to  take  care  of  the  animal.  The  putting  a  horse 
in  a  livery  stable  for  such,  may  be  the  best  and  cheapest 
way,  as  the  club  stable  excludes  physicians  and  others  lia- 
ble to  be  called  upon  at  almost  any  time  during  the  day 
or  night.  There  is  no  remedy  for  this  but  to  put  up  with 
the  livery  system,  or  to  form  clubs  for  themselves,  and  be 
guided  by  such  rules  as  the  peculiar  nature  of  the  work 
for  their  horses  requires. 

The  RACING  STABLE  may  also  be  called  the  training 
stable,  where  horses  are  not  only  kept  for  racing,  but  also 
training  for  the  race,  road,  &c.  The  racing  stable  in  all 
particulars  is  not  unlike  other  large  stables,  only  being  situ- 
ated out  of  the  city,  and  alongside  or  convenient  to  a  racing 
course  or  track.  The  Point  Breeze  stables  and  course, 
situated  outside  of  Philadelphia;  the  course  and  stables 
on  Long  Island ;  the  more  private  one  of  Mr.  Jerome  of 
New  York,  are  good  examples  of  what  is  meant  by  a  rac- 
ing stable.  The  latter  we  believe  is  used  for  running-horses, 
the  others  for  the  trotting-horse.  There  is  no  uniformity 
in  the  style  of  buildings,  nor  the  management  of  horses  in 
such  establishments.  We  have  seen  none  of  these  stables, 
but  an  improvement  in  them  could  be  made,  and  with  this 


THE  RACING  STABLE. 


55 


purpose  in  view,  we  present  a  ground  plan  possessing  some 
advantages  over  most  of  those  in  use  for  such  purpose. 
The  race-horse  should  always  be  allowed  a  loose-box,  to 
insure    absolute    and    entire    rest   after   severe    exertion, 


FEET. 

Racing  Stable. 

to  enable  him  to  recover  in  the  shortest  time  from  his 
fatigue.  The  plan,  as  will  be  seen,  is  divided  into  four 
separate  stables,  thirty-six  feet  long  and  eighteea  wide. 
The  proportions  of  a  loose-box,  for  the  tired  racer  or  horse 


56  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

that  may  at  any  moment  be  called  upon  for  the  exercise 
of  all  its  powers,  should  be  from  sixteen  to  eighteen  feet 
long,  by  about  twelve  feet  wide.  Horses  of  slower  and 
more  regular  work  will  not  require  so  large  a  box. 

Sometimes  there  are  two  men  in  charge  of  a  single  horse, 
feeding,  grooming,  exercising,  or  training  it,  in  a  way  each 
individual  thinks  best.  For  our  part,  we  have  seldom  seen 
a  horse  sent  to  such  places,  and  managed  according  to  the 
whim  of  the  trainer,  return  improved  in  health,  vigor,  or 
speed ;  but  can  recall  many  instances  where  good  horses 
have  been  ruined  in  wind  and  limb  by  the  injudicious  and 
often  cruel  manner  of  the  trainer,  in  the  endeavor  to 
exact  a  rate  of  speed  that  by  nature  the  animal  was  never 
designed  to  perform.  Yet  the  man  of  the  sulky  and  jockey- 
cap  could  not  see  how  this  could  be  so.  All  horses  are 
not  Flora  Temples  or  Dexters,  and  to  credit  the  man  who 
through  force  of  circumstances  became  the  trainer  of  such 
fast  animals  with  their  great  speed  is  absurd,  as  he  would  be 
performing  an  impossibility,  and  laying  claim  to  a  power 
that  can  never  be  attained  but  by  the  hand  of  Nature,  pro- 
per selection  and  judicious  breeding.  We  do  not,  how- 
ever, say  that  good  and  careful  training  has  nothing  to  do 
with  the  development  of  speed ;  the  training  of  the  pugilist 
and  the  acrobat  for  their  subsequent  performances  would 
dispel  such  a  delusion.  But  at  the  same  time,  all  men  are 
not  fitted  by  nature  to  become  experts  at  such  callings,  nor 
are  all  horses  that  find  their  way  to  the  racing  or  training 
stable  adapted  to  perform  their  mile  in  2.40,  even  with  the 


THE    RACING    STABLE.  57 

aid  of  excellent  and  well  adapted  training  for  the  formation 
and  physical  powers  of  the  horse. 

The  breed,  formation,  condition,  and  physical  powers  of 
all  horses  should  be  well  studied  and  understood  before 
undue  exertion  is  exacted  of,  or  cruelty  inflicted  on  any 
horse  sent  to  be  trained  to  a  certain  rate  of  speed  for  the 
race  or  road.  To  prepare  horses  for  severe  exertion,  it  is 
a  practice  to' cause  the  horse  to  sweat  profusely  in  order  to 
make  wind  and  limb  fine.  To  this,  when  properly  carried 
out,  we  cannot  object,  but  we  do  object  to  the  severe  exer- 
tion exacted  from  the  horse  at  the  expense  of  nervous 
energy,  which  should  be  possessed  by  every  horse  in  order 
to  make  a  trotter  of  him.  The  hoods  and  heavy 
blankets  may  all  be  necessary  to  cause  sweating,  but  not 
without  exertion  and  injury  to  both  feet  and  legs.  All 
this  may  be  avoided  by  a  judicious  use  of  the  Turkish 
bath,  thus  saving  the  strength  and  scarcely  disturbing  or 
causing  an  increased  action  of  the  heart.  Indeed,  the 
sweating  process  is  produced  by  the  bath  to  any  extent  or 
degree,  without  in  the  least  affectiog  the  powers  of  the 
horse.  This  is  the  proper  way  to  prepare  horses  for  severe 
exertion  without  injury.  Kepeated  doses  of  aloes  were,  and 
we  believe  are  still  used,  for  the  preparation  of  the  hunter 
and  racer  in  some  establishments  in  Europe ;  but  this  is 
fast  giving  place  to  a  heated  box  or  Turkish  bath,  which 
process  will  be  treated  of  in  another  place,  and  to  which 
attention  should  be  given.  The  extreme  exertion  demanded 
from  some  horses  while  under  training  is  not  only  unneces- 


68  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

Bary,  but  even  cruel,  when  we  consider  that  it  is  exacted 
at  and  during  a  time,  when  by  the  nature  of  animal  life, 
fatigue  and  exhaustion  produces  diaphoresis  and  conse- 
quent weakness. 

The  RAILROAD  STABLES  here  treated  of  are  those  in  use 
by  horse  or  city  street  car  companies.  They  are  of  large 
dimensions  and  well  adapted  for  such  purposes,  being  pro- 
vided with  almost  every  contrivance  to  save  labor  and  pro- 
mote the  health  of  the  horse.  The  steam  grist  or  corn- 
mill,  chaff  or  hay-cutter,  are  among  some  of  the  fixtures 
to  be  found  in  such  establishments.  Although  fitted  up 
expressly  for  the  comfort  of  the  horse,  we  are  not  aware 
that  any  of  them  have  been  provided  with  a  feed-steaming 
apparatus,  by  which  feed  would  be  made  palatable  to  the 
animal,  and  profitable  to  the  stockholders.  We  think  this 
is  an  important  omission,  where  so  many  hard-working 
horses  are  kept,  as  a  large  percentage  can  be  saved  by 
cooking,  and  the  animals  thus  fed  show  an  improved  con- 
dition. Some  persons  may  say  that  feed  thus  prepared  is 
too  soft  for  horses  used  for  the  city  car  or  railroad  work ; 
this  is  an  error,  especially  when  the  feed  is  prepared  by 
steam,  and  not  softened  by  diluting  with  water. 

But  to  return  to  the  city  car  stables.  From  their  extent, 
construction,  conveniences,  and  fine  appearance,  we  are 
led  to  think  of  the  great  improvement  over  the  old  stage 
and  omnibus  stables  of  the  past.  The  stables  alone  may 
not  be  the  sole  agency  in  keeping  the  horses  in  so  excellent 
a  condition,  but  they  have  a  great  deal  to  do  with  it.     The 


THE    RAILROAD    STABLES.  59 

superior  ventilation,  light,  and  cleanliness  of  these  places 
have  almost  banished  glanders  and  farcy  from  our  midst. 
Some  of  the  poorer  companies,  however,  are  still  unpro- 
vided with  sufficient  accommodations  for  their  horses;  and 
it  is  noticeable  that  the  horses  of  such  companies  do  not 
look  so  well,  and  are  not  as  able  to  perform  their  work, 
although  they  are  of  precisely  the  same  character. 

We  merely  mention  this  to  show  that  the  cause  of  the 
debility  of  horses  was  not  the  work  of  drawing  a  lumber- 
ing omnibus  along  the  cobble-paved  streets,  but  was  due 
to  inferior  stabling,  as  evinced  by  the  superiority  of  the 
horses  of  well  regulated  roads  over  those  badly  regulated, 
and  with  inefficient  and  improper  stabling. 

It  is  the  general  remark  of  horsemen,  that  the  stock  of 
horses  on  certain  lines  of  road  look  well,  while  those  on 
others  are  poor  and  bad,  although  the  average  number  of 
miles  travelled  by  each  car  horse  is  about  twenty-four 
each  day  of  the  week ;  and  moreover  those  that  look  best 
are  on  roads  where  the  cars  are  filled  nearly  all  the  time, 
and  are  consequently  more  burthensome  to  the  horses. 

This  difi"erence  in  the  condition  of  horses  similarly 
employed  cannot  be  set  down  to  the  extra  work  performed, 
but  to  the  better  adaptation  of  the  stable  to  its  inmates. 
The  care  bestowed  would  make  a  difference,  but  we  believe 
the  feed  and  care  to  be  about  the  same,  as  from  12  to  15 
horses  in  car  stables  are  intrusted  to  the  care  of  one  man. 
The  only  difi'erence  between  them  in  this  particular  is,  that 
in  some  stables  the  feed  is  measured  and  served  out  by  one 
6 


60  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

person  to  all  the  horses  in  the  stable ;  and  in  others,  each 
man  mixes  and  feeds  the  horses  of  which  he  has  the  care. 
Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  it  is  at  least  as  much  for  the  good 
of  horses  so  employed  that  they  should  be  provided  with 
good  stabling,  as  that  they  should  be  lightly  worked  to 
keep  up  a  certain  condition  and  fitness  for  work,  or  good 
appearance.  To  keep  a  horse  and  give  him  light  work 
will  not  insure  a  high  standard  of  good  health  if  he  be 
kept  in  a  dark,  damp,  ill-ventilated  and  badly  constructed 
place  called  a  stable. 

We  feel  that  it  is  not  necessary  to  say  much  about  the 
management  of  city  car  stables,  and  perhaps  would  not 
have  alluded  to  them  at  all.  but  for  the  good  condition  of 
the  horses  which  are  stabled  in  some  of  them,  and  to  which 
we  often  refer  when  illustrating  the  effects  of  good  stabling 
and  mixed  feed,  that  form  the  food  of  most  of  them.  The 
feed,  as  already  hinted  at,  is  what  some  persons  call  mixed, 
chopped,  or  soft  feed,  and  which  some  stablemen,  par- 
ticularly draymen  and  carters  have  an  aversion  to,  upon 
the  ground  that  it  is  too  soft ;  but  if  their  true  thoughts 
were  known,  their  objections  would  be  found  in  the  trouble 
of  cutting  the  hay  or  straw,  and  mixing  it  with  water  and 
corn-meal  during  the  dinner  hour,  or  when  they  come  to 
the  stable  after  the  day's  work  is  over.  This  can  be  the 
only  true  reason,  because  chopped  feed,  when  properly  pre- 
pared, and  of  proper,  sound  materials,  is  the  safest, 
strongest  and  most  economical  feed  that  can  be  given  to  a 
hard-worked    horse,  not  of  too  fast  work.     The  mixture 


THE    FARM    STABLE.  61 

given  to  the  horses  of  one  of  the  principal  lines  in  Phila- 
delphia is  corn  meal  fifteen  pounds,  cut  hay  sufiicient  to 
give  bulk  to  the  mess,  a  little  salt,  and  water  enough  to 
merely  moisten  the  mixture.  This  quantity  is  divided  into 
three  feeds,  one  given  in  the  morning,  the  others  at  noon 
and  night.  Some  horses  do  not  eat  so  much ;  but  this  is 
the  average  quantity  that  a  horse  will  eat  during  the 
twenty-four  hours,  when  travelling  twenty-four  miles  daily 
and  attached  to  street  cars.  The  mode  of  feeding  car 
horses,  is  referred  to  by  us  as  being  the  best  adapted  to 
horses  travelling  at  the  rate  of  from  six  to  eight  miles  in 
the  hour.  For  horses  of  faster  work,  one  such  feed  should 
be  allowed;  and  that  in  the  evening  after  all  work  is  done, 
for  the  day  and  night.  Some  horses  of  poor  appetite  are 
in  addition  allowed  a  sprinkling  of  bran  over  the  mixture, 
to  whet  their  appetite  and  induce  them  to  eat  their  feed.  We 
do  not  think  that  any  class  of  horses  for  any  kind  of  work 
can  be  fed  more  cheaply  than  on  the  feed  of  car  horses-,  and 
with  the  same  condition  and  flesh  maintained.  Chemists 
may  tell  us  that  maize  or  Indian  corn  produces  caloric  or 
heat  in  the  body,  and  that  oats  are  wanted  to  produce  mus- 
cle, which  we  have  here  without  the  aid  of  oats,  wheat,  or 
barley. 

The  farm  stable  must  be  accepted  as  a  building  of 
many  devices,  shapes  and  appearances,  situated  often  iu 
places  badly  adapted  for  it,  and  often  not  at  all  suited  for 
the  safe  keeping  of  horses.  The  means  of  the  farmer  have 
in  most  instances  been   the   only  consideration,  when   it 


62  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

was  devised  and  built ;  for  if  this  were  not  the  case,  it 
would  not  to  day  almost  throughout  the  whole  extent  of 
the  country  be  a  house  holding  almost  every  product, 
utensil,  and  species  of  animal  on  the  farm.  The  stable  of 
the  farm  is  a  series  of  houses  or  apartments  within  a  house, 
and  used  for  as  many  purposes,  however  diverse  from  one 
another;  thus,  in  one  building  are  the  hay  and  straw 
apartments,  the  granary,  carriages,  harness,  and  all  the 
farm  implements  in  the  upper  portion  of  the  stable,  called 
the  barn,  while  in  the  lower  will  be  found  the  horses,  oxen, 
sheep,  cows  and  calves.  The  stables  of  most  farmers  are 
not  only  unworthy  of  the  name,  but  are  not  at  all  suited 
for  the  purpose  of  keeping  horses  in  safety  or  health  ;  and 
were  it  not  for  the  nature  of  the  farm  horse's  work  (on 
account  of  the  poor  accommodations  given  him  in  the  so- 
called  stable),  he  would  be  the  victim  of  malignant  dis- 
eases. On  a  common  level,  without  a  partition,  stand  the 
oxen,  cows  and  horses,  breathing  the  same  contamioated 
air,  in  a  place  often  without  ventilation  and  light,  and 
generally  reeking  with  the  gases  arising  from  damp  and 
decaying  manure. 

The  horse  while  within  doors  is  compelled  to  stand  or 
lie  down  upon  the  accumulations  of  months.  This  is  a 
poor  arrangement,  and  could  be  easily  abolished  by  merely 
systematizing  the  labor  of  the  day,  and  without  extra 
ex])ense.  The  manure  has  at  some  time  or  other  to  be 
removed  ;  then  why  occupy  a  day  or  two  every  fQ\N  months, 
when  ten  minutes  each  day  before  the  morning  meal  would 


THE    FARM    STABLE.  63 

do  it  ?  This  evil  of  allowing  the  duug  to  lie  for  weeks 
and  months  among  the  horses'  feet  is  but  the  force  of  a 
habit  which  the  farmer  and  his  hired  man  have  acquired, 
to  the  injury  of  his  horses'  health,  and  the  destruction  of 
his  harness-leather  and  carriage-paint. 

The  ventilation  of  farm  stables  can  scarcely  be  called  by 
that  name,  as  the  upper  portion,  filled  with  hay,  straw,  &c., 
efi"ectually  cuts  off  all  communication  with  the  roof  of  the 
barn,  and  thus  natural  ventilation  is  prevented.  The  air 
that  is  admitted  by  crevices  in  the  lower  walls  is  perhaps 
enough  ;  but  when  inhaled  by  and  expelled  from  the  lungs, 
there  is  no  upper  opening  through  which  it  may  ascend  j 
hence  all  its  impurities  must  settle,  some  on  the  walls  and 
fixtures,  to  be  again  and  again  inhaled,  until,  from  its 
weight  of  impurity,  it  is  prevented  floating  in  the  air  of 
the  place.  We  have  in  Chcipter  I.  already  referred  to 
the  poison  in  this  deposit,  not  as  a  curiosity  in  nature,  but 
as  something  to  be  dreaded  and  avoided,  through  the  instru- 
mentality of  ventilation  or  pure  air  and  cleanliness  in  all 
places  where  animals  are  confined. 

The  folly  of  "  carrying  too  many  eggs  in  one  basket"  is 
no  greater  than  that  of  the  farmer  in  converting  his  stable 
into  a  tool-house,  a  barn,  and  a  byre.  Let  the  vivid  light- 
ning or  the  incendiary's  torch  strike  this  place,  and  what 
can  be  saved  ?  In  the  confusion  of  the  moment,  you 
know  not  what  to  get  out  first — the  horses,  oxen,  cows, 
grain,  carriages,  farm  tools,  or  machinery.  There  is  too 
much  to  do  in  the  few  moments  that  may  be  allowed  on 
6* 


64  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

sucli  unfortunate  occasions — "  there  are  too  many  eggs  in 
that  basket." 

Farmers  may  console  themselves  on  the  conij)arative 
immunity  from  fire  in  the  country.  This  is  no  excuse  for 
the  present  arrangements  of  the  agriculturists'  stables.  In 
our  experience  and  lifetime,  many  farm  stables  in  Penn- 
sylvania and  New  York  have  been  consumed  by  fire  from 
natural  causes,  the  incendiary,  or  by  accident,  and  nothing 
left  of  their  contents  but  a  charred  and  blackened  mass,  as 
an  emphatic  rebuke  to  such  imperfect  arrangements. 

This  condition  of  country  stables  should  long  ago  have 
been  remedied;  but  "'better  late  than  never."  The 
excuse  of  poverty  can  no  longer  be  the  plea,  in  the  face  of 
the  high  prices  for  the  products  of  the  farm,  which  has 
enabled  so  many  of  them  to  pay  off  their  mortgages. 


COOLEY'S  PATENT  LOCK  HASP. 


The  above  cut  represents  a  combination  of  lock  and  hasp 
for  stable  doors  and  other  out-buildings.  "  It  is  made  of 
malleable  iron,  very  strong,  and  can  be  used  as  a  hasp  and  as 
a  lock.  It  contains  four  tumblers,  and  can  only  be  opened 
with  a  thin  key,  as  represented  by  figure  1.  It  is  pecu- 
liarly adapted  to  stable  doors,  as  there  is  no  long-handled 
key  to  be  caught  by  the  harness  when  horses  are  going  in 
or  out  of  the  stable. 


(65) 


CHAPTEE    III. 

DIETETICS,  HYGIENE,  AND  REGIMEN. 
Chemistry — Quality  and  Quantity  of  Food — Water— Oats — Corn. 

Baron  Liebig  compares  fhe  bodies  of  animals  to  a  loco- 
motive engine,  in  which  air,  water,  and  fuel,  working, 
together,  generate  heat  and  power.  The  food  is  the  fuel, 
without  which  the  machinery  would  be  useless.  The  food 
and  water  supply  the  material  necessary  to  repair  what  is 
lost  by  wear  and  tear  of  the  machine.  He  says  there  are 
three  conditions  necessary  to  constitute  food  of  perfect 
quality  :  a  certain  quantity  of  albumen  (a  familiar  illustra- 
tion of  which  is  the  white  of  egg),  furnishing  an  imjDortant 
constituent  to  the  blood,  and  is  also  the  material  of  all  the 
plastic  portions  of  the  body — a  proportion  of  heat-giving 
substances,  chiefly  appropriated  in  the  vital  process,  and 
nutritive  salts,  without  which  the-  other  two  cannot  give 
nourishment.  Any  one  of  these  substances  alone  could 
not  support  life,  and  only  in  that  food  where  they  are 

(G6} 


FEEDING.  67 

united  is  found  perfect  nourishment.  The  health  of  ani- 
mal life  depends  on  the  proportion  of  the  different  kinds 
of  food,  .both  in  quantity  and  quality.  These  proportions 
differing  greatly  in  each  animal,  must  be  determined  by 
the  general  state  of  health,  and  the  nature  and  amount  of 
daily  work  to  be  done. 

It  is  a  practicable  problem  for  every  one  to  solve,  by 
careful  observation,  what  quality  and  quantity  is  especially 
wanted  or  suited  to  each  animal,  in  proportion  to  its  condi 
tion  and  daily  labor,  for  lengthening  its  life  and  promoting 
its  powers.  The  daily  work  of  each  animal  bears  a  rela- 
tion to  its  muscular  power,  and  this  again  depends  on  the 
nutrition  it  receives  from  the  quality  and  quantity  of  food 
allowed,  consumed,  and  assimilated. 

The  feed  given  to  animals  or  beasts  of  burden  should  be 
in  accordance  with  the  labor  performed.  In  order  that  the 
working  power  shall  be  kept  up,  the  food  must  contain 
sufficient  albumen  to  supply  what  is  lost  in  the  body.  In 
some  horses  the  amount  of  food  required  to  be  given  at  a 
time  must  be  in  proportion  to  the  rapidity  with  which  it 
can  be  assimilated.  It  therefore  follows,  that  for  hard 
work,  horses  should  not  be  fed  with  bran-mashes  and  soft 
grass,  which  are  too  easily  and  rapidly  assimilated,  but 
with  corn,  oats,  &c.,  which  require  a  longer  time  to  digest. 
But  when  horses  are  not  hard  worked  or  their  strength 
not  severely  taxed,  less  corn  or  oats  will  be  required. 

Horses  during  a  season  of  idleness  can  maintain  perfect 
health  with  far  less  concentrated  food,  as  corn,  &c.,  than  is 


68  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

necessary  in  times  of  hard  work.  This  seems  to  be  well 
understood  among  horsemen  of  all  grades;  or,  if  it  be  not, 
how  are  we  to  account  for  the  great  diversity  of  the  feed- 
ing of  horses  everywhere  ?  The  horse  for  pleasure,  or  for 
the  family  carriage  of  the  gentleman,  does  not  require  the 
amount  of  food  that  is  demanded  by  the  horses  attached  to 
the  scrapers  of  the  contractors  of  the  Pacific  Railroad, 
which  are  fed  five  pounds  of  barley  three  times  daily,  with 
as  much  bunch  or  bufi"alo  grass  as  they  can  eat  at  night. 
Horses  consuming  a  less  quantity  of  feed  would  not  stand 
the  work  exacted  from  them,  because  of  their  faulty  diges- 
tion and  slow  assimilation.  A  good  measure  of  the  value 
of  the  working  properties  of  a  horse  is,  the  less  feed  eaten 
the  less  is  he  able  to  stand  severe  work.  Thus  we  are 
often  told  by  the  owner  of  a  horse,  that  if  it  could  but  eat 
twelve  quarts  of  oats  in  the  day,  the  animal  could  go 
faster,  stand  the  exertion,  and  would  be  greutly  increased 
in  value  ;  but  as  it  is,  the  exertion  of  to-day  destroys  his 
speed  and  appetite  on  the  morrow.  This  is  one  of  the 
reasons  why  but  about  nine  per  cent,  of  the  horses  bought 
by  a  certain  city  railroad  company  in  this  city  stand  the 
work  for  any  length  of  time.  Thus  the  boiler  cannot  gen- 
erate steam  to  keep  the  machinery  long  enough  in  motion. 
The  carriage-horse  used  by  ladies  for  carrying  them  to  the 
shop,  the  opera,  or  the  ball,  requires  but  little  feed,  when 
we  compare  its  work  with  that  of  the  animal  in  the  dray, 
railroad  car,  or  business  wagon. 

The  keeper  of  the   livery  stable  is  well  aware   of  the 


FEEDING.  by 

relation  existing  between  the  feed  and  the  work  of  a  horse, 
and  charges  an  extra  price  for  the  keep  of  one  that  works 
ten  to  twelve  hours  in  the  twenty-four  over  the  other 
that  is  at  work  about  three  to  four,  and  many  days  are 
not  worked  at  all. 

In  our  climate,  a  difference  in  the  kind  of  food  should 
be  made,  not  that  the  horse  is  just  as  susceptible  to  a 
change  in  his  food  at  all  times  as  man  is,  but  in  winter, 
feed  capable  of  developing  a  greater  degree  of  caloric  or 
heat  in  the  body  is  required.  Corn  produces  heat,  gives 
roundness  to  the  body,  and  in  cold  weather  should  form  a 
portion  at  least  of  the  feed  of  horses.  Chemists  tell  us 
that  in  winter  oats  make  more  muscle  or  flesh  than  corn, 
and  therefore  should  form  part  of  the  feed  of  working- 
horses — the  harder  the  work  the  greater  the  demand  for 
oats.  What  are  we  to  do  or  say  in  such  matters,  when 
science  and  experience  do  not  agree  as  it  seems  they 
apparently  and  sometimes  really  do  ?  Thus,  hundreds  of 
hard-working  horses  in  Philadelphia  are  fed  exclusively  on 
corn-meal  and  cut  hay,  yet  the  body  is  fat  and  round,  the 
muscles  well  developed  and  capable  of  great  exertion,  as 
can  be  seen  in  the  horses  of  some  of  the  city  railroads, 
w^hich  are  fed  only  with  fifteen  pounds  of  corn-meal  divided 
into  three  meals,  with  cut  hay,  a  little  salt,  and  mixed  with 
water.  This  feed  will  when  w^ell  considered  be  not  only 
excellent  as  a  strong  and  healthy,  but  as  a  very  economical 
one,  costing  for  each  horse  daily  not  over  thirty-five  to 
forty  cents,  including  hay  and  salt. 


70  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

We  can  illustrate  more  fully  the  various  plans  of  feed- 
ing, and  the  demands  made  for  such  diversity,  by  introduc- 
ing to  our  readers  the  character  and  quantity  of  feed  given 
the  celebrated  trotting-horse  "  Dexter,"  the  property  of 
Kobert  Bonner,  Esq.,  New  York,  kept  for  his  driving  and 
pleasure,  used  we  believe  in  single  harness,  and  attached 
to  a  light  trotting-wagon,  and  driven  from  twelve  to  fifteen 
miles  in  the  afternoon,  but  not  every  day.  In  the  morn- 
ning  he  is  allowed  all  the  water  he  will  drink,  after  which 
two  quarts  of  oats  are  given,  and  when  eaten,  half  an 
hour's  walking  exercise  is  enforced ;  when  he  is  brought 
home  again  (which  is  usually  about  9  o'clock  A.  M.)  he 
gets  two  more  quarts  of  oats ;  but  if  no  drive  for  the  after- 
noon, half  to  three-quarters  of  an  hour  more  exercise  of  a 
gentle  nature  is  exacted,  and  at  1  o'clock  p.  m.,  two  quarts 
of  oats  are  fed,  and  in  the  afternoon  if  he  be  driven,  which 
is  about  fifteen  miles,  on  coming  into  the  stable  he  is  rubbed 
dry,  a  swallow  of  water  is  given,  and  from  five  to  six 
pounds  of  hay  is  placed  before  him.  If  the  work  has  been 
a  little  extra,  he  is  treated  to  two  quarts  of  oat-meal  gruel, 
and  when  well  cooled  oiF,  half  a  bucket  of  water  and  three 
quarts  of  oats,  with  two  quarts  of  bran  moistened  with  hot 
water.  On  days  of  great  speed,  the  allowance  of  water  is 
reduced. 

Thus  it  is  seen,  that  this  pleasure  horse  is  fed  upon  nine 
quarts  of  oats  and  two  of  bran,  and  from  five  to  six  pounds 
of  hay,  in  the  twenty-four  hours,  costing  for  oats  about 
twenty  cents  per  day;    bran,  say  five  cents;    hay,  seven 


FEEDING.  71 

cents,  making  a  total  of  thirty-two  cents  for  feed.  It  will 
be  observed  that  it  costs  within  a  few  cents  as  much  to 
feed  a  horse  used  for  pleasure  driving  when  oats  are  given, 
as  it  does  to  feed  a  hard-working  horse  on  corn-meal ;  but 
it  does  not  follow  that  a  hard-worked  horse  could  be  kept 
in  condition  with  nine  quarts  of  oats  per  day,  nor  that  the 
pleasure  horse  would  require  fifteen  quarts  of  corn-meal  a 
day  to  insure  a  good  working  condition.  How.  difficult  as 
well  as  unnecessary  is  it  for  us  to  fix  a  certain  quantity 
and  quality  of  food  to  be  given  to  all  horses,  when  age, 
condition,  and  work  are  not  the  same  I  This  discrepancy, 
however,  is,  for  the  intelligent  stableman,  easily  overcome 
by  a  little  observation  of  the  feeding  capacity  and  condi- 
tion of  each  individual  horse  under  his  care.  It  is  safe  to 
allow  some  horses  of  weak  constitution  to  eat  all  the  feed 
they  can  consume,  and  that  will  not  be  too  much  to  main- 
tain them  in  flesh  and  in  working  order ;  their  appetites 
being  the  only  measure  required  for  daily  use,  at  least  dur- 
ing the  season  of  work.  The  work  is  the  regulator  of  the 
consumption  of  feed,  as  with  such  horses,  the  harder  the 
work  the  less  will  they  eat,  and  vice  versa,  when  a  limit 
to  the  quantity  should  be  made. 

The  horses  of  railroad  contractors  and  railroad  compa- 
nies, as  a  general  average,  get  fifteen  pounds  of  barley  or 
corn-meal  each  day.  It  is  found,  however,  that  many  ani- 
mals will  not  eat  so  much,  but  others  will  eat  much  more 
than  this  allowance,  and  are  much  more  able  to  perform 
their  work — another  confirmation  of  the  necessary  propor- 
7 


72  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

tion  of  the  quantity  of  feed  consumed  to  the  amount  of 
work  exacted. 

The  greater  the  steam  capacity  of  a  boiler,  the  greater 
the  power  of  the  engine ;  likewise,  the  more  perfect  diges- 
tion and  quicker  the  assimilation  of  the  food,  so  will  the 
power  of  the  horse  be.  Unfortunately,  however,  this  rela- 
tion of  the  amount  and  quality  of  food  to  the  work  de- 
manded is  not  always  properly  understood  or  appreciated, 
because  some  persons  argue,  "  no  work,  little  feed,"  for- 
getting that  the  wear  and  tear  of  the  system  is  always 
going  on,  and  has  to  be  repaired,  work  or  no  work,  if  the 
horse  is  to  be  kept  in  health  and  condition.  All  over  this 
amount  of  feed  may  be  kejDt  back,  and  replaced  when  work 
is  on  hand. 

The  quantity  and  quality  of  food  required  for  the  keep- 
ing of  a  horse  in  health  and  flesh  during  idleness  is  as 
difficult  to  determine  as  fixing  the  amount  of  feed  to  be 
given  to  all  horses  of  every  work.  A  horse  well-ribbed 
home,  short-jointed,  and  of  good  disposition,  will  subsist 
on  much  less  food  than  one  long-sided,  loose-jointed,  and 
of  irritable  temper,  whether  in  idleness  or  during  work. 
This  can  only  be  ascribed  to  a  more  perfect,  although  per- 
haps not  a  more  quickened  assimilation  in  one  class  of 
animal  over  that  of  the  other.  Some  animals  will  fatten 
on  straw  in  the  barn-yard,  while  others  will  starve,  become 
diseased,  and  perhaps  die  from  its  effects. 

The  poor  man  with  his  one  horse,  upon  which  he  and  his 
family  depend  for  their  daily  bread,  should  learn  the  im- 


FEEDING.  73 

portaDt  lesson,  tliat  to  feed  a  certain  formation  of  horse  is 
an  easy  matter,  when  compared  to  the  demands  of  another, 
and  in  nowise  better  adapted  for  work.  To  do  a  certain 
amount  of  work,  the  former  horse  will  require  less  food 
than  the  latter,  and,  although  he  can  do  it  with  less  food, 
it  does  not  follow  that  he  is  not  a  good  feeder  and  worker, 
or  that  it  is  requisite  to  feed  him  to  the  full  amount  of  his 
consuming  capacity.  The  young  horse  should  not  Jbe  fed 
with  the  same  quality  and  quantity  of  food  that  is  given  to 
animals  of  eight,  ten,  or  twelve  years  of  age ;  hence  he  is 
not  fit  to  work  so  hard.  The  feed  of  young  animals  should 
principally  be  soft,  nutritious,  and  in  greater  bulk  than 
that  given  to  or  required  by  older  ones.  This  will  prevent 
many  diseases  to  which  they  are  subject  if  fed  with  stimu- 
lating feed  in  small  bulk  or  in  high  concentration. 

To  keep  the  old  horse  in  condition  and  health,  he  must 
be  fed  on  feed  capable,  to  a  great  degree,  of  generating 
caloric  in  the  body  as  well  as  of  adding  to  the  red  corpus- 
cles of  the  blood. 

Horses  suffering  from  spavin  or  disease  of  the  joints  of 
the  legs,  require  a  more  generous  diet  than  those  in  perfect 
condition. 

The  size  of  the  pony  and  small  sorts  of  horses  should 
also  be  considered  when  proportioning  their  allowance  of 
feed. 

The  brood-mare,  when  kept  in  the  stable,  demands  some 
consideration,  inasmuch  as  soft,  nutritious,  and  bulky  feed 
is  best  adapted  to  her  condition,  which  requires  fresh -cut 


74  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

grass,  clover,  boiled  turnips,  carrots,  &c.,  insuring  a  strong, 
healthy  colt  and  a  safe  parturition. 

The  feed  of  the  stallion,  or  entire  horse,  during  the 
season  of  service,  or  when  used  for  mares,  should  be  full, 
nutritious,  and  somewhat  stimulating,  consisting  of  the 
plumpest  and  heaviest  oats,  some  corn,  and  sound  timothy 
hay  occasionally,  mixed  with  fresh-cut  grass,  to  regulate 
the  secretions  and  neutralize  the  effects  of  the  heating  of 
the  body  and  blood  by  the  stimulating  feed. 

The  feeding  of  mules  we  notice  only  to  say,  that  the  full 
feeding  of  corn  or  oats  that  is  usually  fed  to  horses  of  ordi- 
nary work,  will  keep  three  working  mules  in  excellent  order 
if  plenty  of  rough  feed  or  hay  be  allowed  them.  They  are 
good  eaters  of  hay,  not  more  so  than  horses,  perhaps,  but 
eat  much  less  solid  and  expensive  food. 

The  general  principle  for  feeding  horses  is  about  as 
follows : — 

Horses  should  be  watered  from  a  brook,  pond,  or  river, 
and  not  from  wells  or  springs,  as  the  well  water  is  hard  and 
colder,  while  the  running  stream  is  soft  and  rather  warm. 
The  preference  of  horses  is  for  the  soft,  even  though  it  be 
muddy  water,  to  that  which  is  hard.  Horses  should  be 
allowed  in  summer  time  at  least  four  waterings  a  day,  and 
half  a  bucketful  at  a  time,  and  in  winter  a  pailful  may  be 
allowed  morning  and  evening,  which  is  sufficient  to  assuage 
their  thirst  without  causing  them  to  bloat  or  puff  up. 
Care,  however,  should  be  taken  that  the  horse  is  not  put 
to  work  immediately  after  drinking  a  full  bucket  of  water, 


FEEDING.  75 

especially  if  required  to  go  fast,  because  digestion  and 
severe  exertion  can  never  go  on  together,  and  moreover 
purging  is  apt  to  ensue.  In  some  cases,  broken  wind  or 
heaves  is  thus  produced.  Avoid  giving  warm  or  tepid 
water  to  horses  that  are  often  driven  from  home,  because 
cold  or  well  water  will  then  perhaps  be  given  them,  which 
will  be  liable  to  produce  a  congestive  chill,  followed  by 
lung  fever,  and  in  some  cases  colic.  When  horses  are  thus 
carefully  watered,  if  one  or  more  of  them  should  refuse 
their  accustomed  food,  something  is  wrong,  and  they 
should  not  be  taken  out  of  the  stable  to  work,  or  driven 
further  that  day ;  but  an  examination  should  be  made  as 
to  the  cause,  with  a  view  to  its  removal. 

Oats  as  a  feed  for  horses  are  considered,  by  common 
consent,  to  be  the  best  that  can  be  used  for  such  purpose, 
which  is  confirmed  by  the  good  condition  of  horses  so  fed, 
as  well  as  by  the  chemical  constituents  produced  from  the 
oat.  Happily,  however,  it  is  not  obligatory  that  oats 
should  be  exclusively  fed  to  horses,  as  their  cost  is  fre- 
quently much  enhanced  by  the  smallness  of  the  crop.  On 
the  contrary,  the  cold  of  winter  generally  demands  a  feed 
of  greater  heating  power  than  can  be  obtained  from  this 
grain. 

The  standard  weight  of  a  bushel  of  oats  is  thirty-two 
pounds  by  law,  but  very  rarely  is  this  reached,  especially 
for  the  last  six  or  eight  years,  during  which  time  the 
weight  has  been  about  twenty-six  to  twenty-eight  pounds. 
In  the  purchase  of  oats,  allowance  can  be  claimed  when 
7^ 


76 


AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 


they  weigh  less  than  thirty-two  pounds,  and  an  increase  in 
price  is  usually  demanded  by  the  seller  for  any  excess. 

Viewing  oats  as  a  feed  in  all  their  excellencies,  we  can- 
not be  convinced  but  that  they  are  an  extravagant  and 
very  expensive  feed,  unless  we  could  believe  that  light  or 
poor  oats  are  as  good  for  horse  feed  as  those  which  are 
heavy  and  plump. 

European  or  Xova  Scotian  oats  all  seem  to  be  fed  alike — 
light  or  heavy,  eight,  ten,  or  twelve  quarts — no  allowance 
being  made  for  their  weight,  and  not  unfrequently,  also, 
without  regard  to  the  age.  constitution,  or  work  required 
of  the  animal.  Horses  thus  treated  cannot  but  be  impro- 
perly fed — either  too  much  or  too  little — forming  thus  the 
basis  of  disease  of  an  exalted  type  when  fed  with  heavy, 
and  of  a  depressed  kind  when  fed  with  light  and  poor  oats. 

We  are  well  aware  that  we  are  laying  siege  to  the 
citadel  of  constituted  opinion,  when  the  value  of  oats  for 
feeding  horses  is  called  in  question;  but  what  can  be 
said  when  we  tell  horsemen  that  no  two  samples  of  oats, 
even  when  of  equal  weight  per  bushel,  will  give  the  same 
analysis,  nor  contain  the  same  amount  of  nutrition.  In 
addition  to  this,  we  have  a  great  variety  of  oats,  all  diflfer- 
ing  in  value  as  a  feed.  Thus  we  have  the  common  oat, 
the  White,  Poland,  Early  Angus,  Hopetoun,  Cumberland 
early,  Tartarian,  Potato,  Sandy,  Georgian,  and  many  other 
kinds  too  numerous  to  mention.  The  weight  and  proper- 
ties of  each  depend  not  so  much  on  the  variety  as  upon 
the  season,  climate   and  soil  on  which   they  are  grown. 


FEEDING.  77 

Yet,  with  all  these  discreiDancies  in  the  value  of  oats,  they 
are  still  fed,  not  by  the  pound,  but  by  the  quart.  Thus 
we  see  some  horses  kept  in  good  working  condition  by 
feeding  oats  to  them,  but  the  major  part  demand  an  addi- 
tion of  Indian  corn  to  supply  the  wear  and  tear  of  the 
system  under  ordinary  work,  and  for  this  purpose  some 
horsemen  add  one  bushel  of  corn  to  four  of  oats. 

It  is  the.  conviction  of  many  who  own  a  number  of  horses 
kept  for  work,  that  oats  are  deceptive,  and  not  sufficient  as 
a  feed,  with  the  usual  allowance  of  hay  combined.  So 
extensively  is  this  opinion  held,  that  scarcely  a  hard  work- 
ing horse  can  be  found  that  is  now  fed  exclusively  on  oats 
and  hay.  The  poverty  of  the  oats  in  general  is  such  that 
few  horses  can  consume  enough  of  them  to  supply  the  sys- 
tem with  nourishment  commensurate  with  the  work  per- 
formed. We  know  of  carriage  horses  not  even  in  daily 
use  and  which  when  in  harness  are  not  tak^  out  of  the 
city,  but  merely  used  for  shopping  and  visiting  purposes, 
which  require,  to  keep  them  in  something  like  respectable 
condition  in  flesh,  about  twenty-four  quarts  in  the  day, 
together  with  sixteen  pounds  of  timothy  hay,  and  occa- 
sionally a  mixture  of  bran  in  addition.  Yet  with  all  this, 
they  are  not  in  better  order  than  animals  fed  on  corn-meal 
and  cut  hay,  and  morever  are  not  able  to  go  faster  or  do 
harder  work  than  those  horses  fed  on  corn-meal  and  cut 
hay.  We  are  aware  that  these  facts  can  never  be  recon- 
ciled with  the  theory  of  the  chemist  and  the  prejudices  of 
the  stablemen ;  nevertheless  where  such  conflict  occurs,  as 


78  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

it  occasionally  does,  we  are  bound  to  decide  in  favor  of 
well-founded  experience. 

We  are  told  by  foreign  authority,  that  for  a  carriage  or 
saddle  horse,  half  a  peck  of  sound  oats,  weighing  forty-five 
pounds  to  the  bushel,  and  eighteen  pounds  of  good  hay  are 
sufficient,  and  with  less  hay  an  addition  of  a  quarter  of  a 
peck  more  of  oats  will  be  required.  It  is  added,  however, 
that  a  horse  required  to  work  harder  should  have  more 
both  of  oats  and  hay. 

We  will  not  presume  to  doubt  the  all-sufficiency  of  the 
above  quantities,  but  can,  without  fear  of  contradiction 
assert  that  the  same  amount  fed  in  bulk,  will  not  keep  a 
sixteen-hand  carriage  horse  in  good  condition  and  working 
order  in  Philadelphia.  With  us,  even  a  small  fourteen- 
and-one-half-haud  horse  is  not  considered  fit  for  good  driv- 
ing, unless  he  can  consume  twelve  quarts  of  oats  and  from 
ten  to  twel\«e  pounds  of  hay.  In  Great  Britain,  the  oats 
are  better,  and  the  streets  and  roads  are  good,  which  may 
account  for  some  of  the  difference.  The  climate  and  per- 
haps the  constitution  of  the  horses  are  better  than  with  us, 
and  if  such  be  the  case,  it  will  also  help  to  account  for  so 
small  an  allowance  of  oats  to  carriage  horses.  To  keep 
carriage  horses  in  good  working  condition,  the  chafi"  or  hay- 
cutter  and  corn-meal  are  found  to  be  as  indispensable  in 
the  private  stable  of  the  gentleman  as  they  are  in  the  sta- 
ble of  the  drayman,  or  of  the  railroad  company  with  their 
hard-worked  horses. 

The  following  will  illustrate  still  further  the  unreliability 


FEEDING.  79 

of  Pennsylvania  oats  as  feed  for  our  horses,  both  in  regard 
to  their  efficacy  and  their  economy.  The  report  from  the 
Honorable  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  for  1868,  on  the 
average  production  of  the  cereal  crops  of  the  country  says, 
that  27.8  bushels  to  the  acre  is  the  amount,  while  in  Great 
Britain  the  yield  is  60  bushels.  These  figures  of  them- 
selves clearly  show  how  costly  it  is  to  feed  horses  with 
oats  gathered  from  so  many  acres  of  land  that  could  pro- 
duce a  larger  and  more  substantial  crop  of  corn,  costing 
for  horse  feed  less  money,  because  of  its  sufficiency  in  keep- 
ing horses  of  hard  work  in  excellent  condition.  We  do 
not  mean  to  advise  the  total  exclusion  of  oats  as  a  food  from 
the  stable,  but  to  show  that  they  can  be  readily  substituted 
by  a  less  costly  and  more  nutritious  feed.  Oats  when  fed 
to  old  horses,  should  be  ground  or  bruised  to  render  them 
suitable  for  defective  teeth,  which  cannot  chew  them  when 
whole,  and  properly  mix  them  with  the  saliva.  To  save 
the  expense  of  a  hay  or  straw-cutter  as  well  as  time  and 
labor  for  cutting  hay  or  straw  into  chaff,  many  stablemen 
mix  oats  with  corn-meal,  making  the  feed  into  sufficient 
bulk,  thus  supplying  the  place  of  cut  hay.  This  may 
answer  a  good  purpose,  but  is  too  costly  a  mixture. 

Corn  when  cracked,  or  in  the  form  of  meal  and  mixed 
with  material  to  give  proper  bulk,  which  in  some  degree 
is  capable  of  neutralizing  or  destroying  its  heating  proper- 
ties when  fed  to  horses,  is  not  only  a  valuable  and  substan- 
tial, but  also  an  economical  feed,  and  ca?n  be  with  safety 
fed  to  all  kinds  of  horses  of  all  manner  of  work.     This  has 


80  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

been  clearly  demonstrated  eight  to  ten  years  ago,  on  the 
almost  complete  failure  of  the  oat  crop,  and  ever  since  it 
continues  the  princijDal  feed  of  those  horses  that  are  kept 
for  hard-work,  the  feed  of  which  has  been  made  matter  of 
commercial  calculation. 

The  experience  of  feeders  of  stock  of  all  kinds  has 
shown  that  the  fattening  properties  of  Indian  corn  are 
surprisingly  great,  and  to  be  preferred  for  this  purpose  to 
everything  else ;  moreover,  it  is  preferred  by  most  animals 
to  almost  every  other  kind  of  feed.  It  is  rich  in  oil  of  a 
very  pleasant  kind,  which  is  obtained  in  the  distillation 
for  making  whiskey  and  alcohol.  The  following  analysis 
of  Indian  corn  according  to  Dana,  made  for  the  purpose 
of  comparing  its  nutritive  and  fat-forming  qualities  with 
those  of  some  other  articles  used  for  feeding,  shows  the 
great  diflference  of  what  Dr.  Dana  calls  the  fat-forming 
principles  in  favor  of  corn,  and  does  not  surprise  us,  from 
what  we  have  seen  of  its  effects  when  fed  to  animals 

ANALYSIS    OF    CORN. 

Corn,  100  lbs. 
Containing  of  flesh-forming  principles — gluten, 

albumen,  &c.           ...                   .          .  1.26 

Fat-forming    principles  —  gum,    starch,    sugar, 

woody  fibre,  oil,  &c 88.43 

Water 9. 

Salts L31 


100. 
The  above  table  of  analysis  goes  far  in  establishing  the 


FEEDING. 


81 


soundness  of  the  views  entertained  by  Baussingalt  and 
Pagen  that  plants  are  valuable  for  giving  fat  to  animals 
only  in  proportion  to  the  vegetable  oils,  ready  formed, 
which  such  plants  contain. 

To  make  a  comparison  of  the  feeding  qualities  of  oats 
with  corn,  we  give  the  following  table  by  M.  Saussure  : 


ANALYSIS    OF    OATS. 


Ashes  of  Oats,  100  parts. 

Soluble  salts     . 

1. 

Earthy  phosphates     . 

24. 

Silicid      .... 

60. 

Metallic  oxide 

25 

Loss          .... 

14.75 

100. 

Other  analyses  of  oats  could  be  given,  although  differing 
somewhat  from  the  above,  but  not  essentially,  and  all  going 
to  prove,  however,  that  the  oat  is  not  so  valuable  for  feed- 
ing animals  as  maize.  Indeed,  if  there  be  any  fault  found 
with  corn  as  a  feed  for  horses,  it  is  its  great  fattening 
qualities  and  stimulating  effects. 

What  would  the  poor  of  Great  Britain  have  done  some 
years  ago,  had  it  not  been  for  the  nutritive  quality  of 
maize  and  the  happy  repeal  of  the  English  Corn  Law  ? 
No  other  sort  of  feed  is  able  to  fatten  animals  so  surely 
and  so  quickly  as  Indian  corn.  Ask  the  beef  and  pork 
packers  of  the  West  as  to  the  value  of  corn,  and  they  will 
tell  you  there  is  no  such  feed  as  a  flesh  and  fat  producer, 


82  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

or  a  more  economical  one.  In  the  face  of  this  array  of 
favorable  testimony,  are  we  to  deny  to  our  horses  what  we 
feed  to  the  swine  ?  We  would  ask,  then,  why  is  it  that 
stablemen,  in  their  selection  of  the  feed  of  the  horse,  really 
reject  the  good  and  accept  the  indifferent?  This  would 
not  be  so  universally  the  case  were  they  to  foot  the  feed- 
bill  every  month,  Unfortunately,  coachmen  and  grooms 
as  a  class  have  very  indifferent  notions  on  stable  economy, 
the  effects  of  which  the  owner  may  not  feel ;  nevertheless 
it  has  to  be  paid  for. 

The  strength  of  a  horse  is  not  developed  so  much  by  the 
quantity  and  quality  of  solid  feed  he  is  fed  upon  as  on  the 
judicious  training  accorded  him.  Animals  that  remain 
long  without  work,  as  in  the  sale  stable,  are  very  apt  to 
sicken  and  die  within  a  short  time,  if  placed  immediately 
at  hard  work,  without  preliminary  light  exercise  to  gradu- 
ally develope  the  power  that  has  departed  during  the 
period  of  inactivity.  Therefore  we  do  not  comprehend  the 
chemist,  when  he  says  the  harder  the  work  the  more  oats 
are  to  be  fed,  and  can  only  excuse  him  when  he  takes  the 
analogy  from  Northern  Europe,  where  corn  cannot  be 
grown,  and  where  the  oat  crop  is  found  in  its  native  ele- 
ment. But  in  this  country  no  excuse  can  be  given,  where 
the  luxuriance  of  the  Indian  corn  crop  cannot  be  equalled, 
and  the  oat  crops  are  comparative  failures.  To  pay  one 
dollar  a  quart  for  Norway  oats  would  not  be  considered 
economical  to  feed  horses;  neither  is  it  good  judgment  to 
pay  an  extravagant  price   for   light  chaffy  oats,  scarcely 


FEEDING.  83 

weighing  as  heavy  as  the  refuse  of  European  oat-clearings, 
and  feed  them  to  horses,  and  then  expect  a  full  day's  work 
from  an  insufficient  feed. 

For  horse  feed,  Indian  corn  possesses  all  the  elements  of 
warmth  and  nutrition,  and  is  well  calculated  to  supply  the 
wear  and  tear  of  the  system  of  the  hardest  worked  horse, 
and  keep  him  in  a  healthy  condition,  without  any  assistance 
from  oats ;  but  the  usual  addition  of  hay  should  be  allowed 
to  horses,  whatever  be  the  feed  that  is  in  use.  We  have 
thus  shown,  not  only  by  chemical  analysis,  but  by  the 
teachings  of  experience,  that  corn*  contains  nearly  all  the 
elements  of  animal  nutrition,  and  it  therefore  only  remains 
for  us  to  suggest  a  plan  whereby  corn  can  be  fed,  not  only 
profitably  to  the  owner,  but  with  the  best  results  to  the 
horse.  Before  we  attempt  this,  it  may  be  necessary,  how- 
ever, to  state  that  ten  pounds  of  sound  timothy  hay  are 
equal,  in  point  of  nutrition  as  food  for  horses,  to  five 
pounds  of  oats,  and  ten  pounds  of  clover  hay  are  equal  to 
about  four  of  oats.  Thus  it  will  be  seen,  that  to  adopt  the 
corn  as  a  feed,  and  reject  the  oat,  no  injury  can  arise  from 
the  change  as  long  as  sufficient  hay  is  allowed.  Hay  being 
the  great  auxiliary  to  oats,  we  do  not  see  why  its  good 
offices  should  not  be  exercised  with   the   same   potential 

*  Since  the  MS.  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  publishers,  the 
half-yearly  report  for  July,  1869,  of  the  "London  General  Omni- 
bus Company,"  shows  a  saving  of  $70,000  as  the  result  of  feeding 
Indian  corn  instead  of  oats  to  their  horses. 
8 


84  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

effects  when  corn  is  the  feed,  for  we  are  almost  certain 
that  oats  without  the  hay  would  be  a  much  poorer  feed 
than  corn,  under  similar  circumstances. 

By  a  reference  to  the  analysis  of  corn,  it  will  be  observed 
that  there  is  little  loss  from  woody  fibre  or  other  inert  sub- 
stance, but  that  it  is  wholly  composed  of  flesh  and  fat- 
forming  substances.  It  is  this  principle  contained  in  corn 
that  is  to  be  modified  and  corrected  as  a  feed,  and  not  to 
be  added  to  by  a  greater  concentration  of  nutritive  matter ; 
or,  in  other  words,  add  to  the  corn  materials  that  do  not 
contain,  or  at  least  but  in  a  small  degree,  those  powerful 
constituents  that  characterize  Indian  corn;  and  for  this 
purpose  we  will  recommend  that  the  corn  be  in  minute 
division,  or  ground  into  meal,  to  insure  a  greater  diffusion 
in  the  stomach,  and  less  concentration  than  would  result 
by  feeding  it  whole,  and  not  mixed  with  extraneous  matter, 
as  cut  hay,  or  chaff  and  a  little  bran.  The  bran  is  to  pre- 
vent, or  at  least  modify,  the  costive  or  binding  and  heating 
effects  of  the  corn  ;  the  chaff  or  cut  hay  is  to  give  sufficient 
bulk  to  the  feed,  thereby  keeping  the  bowels  moist,  and 
the  meal  from  contraction.  At  the  same  time,  the  horse 
has  a  feed  before  him  of  which  he  can  eat  his  fill  without 
producing  cramp  or  colic,  which  often  results  from  feeding 
corn  whole  or  in  meal,  without  a  sufficient  mixture  or 
bulk  being  given  to  it.  It  is  the  want  of  this  knowledge, 
together  with  the  extra  trouble  in  cutting  hay  and  mixing 
such  a  feed,  that  forms  the  chief  argument  of  some  stable- 
men against  feedino-  with   corn  and  in  favor  of  oats.     A 


FEEDING.  85 

carriage  or  saddle-liorse  used  for  shopping  or  afternoon 
rides  or  drives  can  be  kept  in  excellent  condition  with  six 
pounds  of  corn  meal,  three  pounds  of  cut  hay,  two  quarts 
of  wheat  bran,  and  a  teaspoonful  of  salt,  mixed  with  warm 
water  in  winter  and  cold  in  summer,  the  water  to  be  just 
enough  barely  to  moisten  the  mess  and  not  make  soft  feed 
or  slop  to  disturb  the  bowels  of  the  horse  and  unfit  him 
for  exertion. 

The  above-named  mess  is  to  be  divided  into  three  feeds, 
for  morning,  noon,  and  evening.  An  addition  of  six  to 
eight  pounds  of  hay  must  also  be  given  in  the  rack. 
These  quantities,  however,  are  merely  proximate,  for  the 
old  horse  and  one  of  harder  work  will,  to  keep  him  in  good 
condition,  require  an  addition,  and  young  animals  of  less 
work  will  not  require  so  much. 

Draught  and  hard-worked  horses  should  be  fed  more 
generously,  say  fifteen  to  sixteen  pounds  of  meal,  with  six 
to  eight  pounds  of  cut  hay,  half  a  peck  of  bran,  and  an 
extra  allowance  of  hay  in  the  rack  at  night. 

Some  persons  have  the  corn  ground  along  with  the  cob. 
To  this  there  can  be  little  objection — only  it  is  a  little  difii- 
cult  to  know  exactly  by  weight  what  amount  of  meal  the 
horse  is  getting,  except  the  full  weight  of  the  corn  is 
allowed,  and  the  ground  cob  in  addition,  which  may  with 
people  of  calculation  obviate  the  necessity  of  an  allowance 
of  bran  to  each  mess.  New  corn  should  be  fed  to  horses 
with  the  greatest  care,  especially  to  young  horses  whose 
stomachs  are  as  yet  not  fit  to  digest  a  full  feed  even  of  old 


Ob  AMERICAN   STABLE    GUIDE. 

corn.  Indeed  Indian  corn  should  always  be  ground  for 
horses,  or  at  least  fed  on  the  cob,  to  prevent  too  rapid  fill- 
ing of  the  stomach,  thereby  arresting  digestion.  Ferraen- 
tation  is  thus  set  up,  and  flatulent  colic  and  death  may 
result. 

The  great  desideratum  in  the  feeding  of  corn  should  be : 
1st.  Have  it  ground,  because  it  is  more  economical  and 
safe.  2d.  Mix  with  material  having  a  much  less  nutritive 
principle  to  give  bulk,  at  the  same  time  having  a  cooling 
tendency,  thereby  neutralizing  the  stimulating  efi'ects  of 
the  corn. 


CHAPTEE  ly. 

DIETETICS,  HYGIENE,  AND  REGIMEN— CoH^mHcrf. 

Barley — Rye — Carrots  and  Turnips — Grass — Pasture  and  Soiling 
— Timothy  and  Clover  Hay — Bran — Cooking  of  Food  for  Horses 
— Prindle's  Steamer — Weight  of  Stable  Feed. 

Barley  as  food  for  horses  has  gained  some  repute  since 
the  failure  of  our  oat  crop,  and  is  grown  by  farmers  for  the 
express  purpose  of  feeding  horses  upon.  In  so  far  as  those 
principles  for  fat-forming  are  concerned,  it  possesses  a  high 
degree  of  value,  abounding  in  albumen,  gluten,  sugar,  gum, 
and  superphosphate  of  lime;  or,  in  other  words,  barley 
contains  about  sixty-five  per  cent,  of  nutritive  matter,  while 
oats  weighing  forty  pounds  to  the  bushel  contain  only 
about  twenty-four  pounds  of  nutritive  material. 

Inferior  barley  in  some  parts  of  this  country  is  fed 
instead  of  oats  with  the  best  effects.  In  forming  a  conclu- 
sion, horsemen  would  do  well  to  remember  that  two  parts 
of  barley  are  more  than  equal  to  three  of  good  oats. 

In  some  parts  of  Germany,  barley  is  ground  into  flour 
8*  (87) 


88  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

and  iliade  into  cakes,  which  are  fed  to  their  horses.  In 
Great  Britain  it  is  usually  boiled,  and  fed  in  the  evening — 
fattening  the  horse,  giving  a  glossy  coat,  and  having  an 
excellent  effect  in  all  respects. 

For  a  sick  horse,  we  know  of  nothing  that  assists  the 
effects  of  medicines  and  the  efforts  of  nature  in  the  cure 
of  disease  like  a  feed  of  boiled  barley.  As  already  stated, 
it  forms  the  chief  food  of  horses  in  the  far  West,  where  it 
is  sold  for  eight  cents  the  pound,  and  fed  to  horses  on  the 
Pacific  Eailroad  at  the  rate  of  five  pounds  three  times 
daily — because  it  is  the  most  economical  in  every  way. 
We  very  much  doubt  whether  the  same  amount  of  any 
other  variety  of  food  could  maintain  the  condition  and 
strength  of  those  hard-worked  horses  like  barley.  In  all 
our  large  cities,  barley  is  never  thought  of  in  connection 
with  the  feeding  of  horses.  The  recuperating  power  of 
boiled  or  malted  barley  is  truly  surprising,  and  we  think 
many  a  good  and  useful  horse  could  have  been  saved  to  its 
owner  by  a  few  messes  of  such  material.  Let  the  boiled 
or  malted  barley  take  the  place  of  the  weak  and  deceptive 
bran-mash,  which  every  horseman  will  persist  in  giving  to 
the  sick  or  tired  horse  ;  little  thinking  of  the  non-strength- 
ening quality  of  such  slops  when  the  poor  animal  wants 
something  more  stimulating  and  strengthening.  We  do 
not  anticipate  that  barley  will  become  a  general  feed  for 
the  horse,  at  least,  while  corn  is  so  plentiful  and  so  cheap; 
but  we  insist  that  barley  shall  have  a  place  and  its  proper 
one  in  every  stable  in  the  country,  if  for  no  other  purpose 


FEEDING.  89 

than  that  of  an  occasional  change  of  food  to  the  healthy, 
and  a  beveras-e  to  the  sick  and  tired  horse. 

Rye,  although  considered  equal  in  point  of  nutrition  to 
wheat,  yet  is  not  recommended  for  the  feeding  of  horses, 
on  account  of  its  causing  an  acescent  state  of  the  stomach 
and  diarrhoea.  As  green  food,  it  is  not  only  valuable  as  a 
soiling  substance,  but  is  a  good  fattening  material  to  most 
animals,  and  is  usually  fed  in  the  early  part  of  the  sum- 
mer, either  by  turning  the  horses  into  the  field,  or  as  is 
most  common,  cut  in  quantities  and  carried  into  the  stable, 
which  is  the  most  economical  mode.  Rye,  however,  is 
scarcely  known  in  the  stable  in  any  form,  except  as  straw 
for  litter  or  bedding,  and  for  this  purpose  it  is  extensively 
and  even  extravagantly  employed,  costing  more  money  than 
almost  any  one  article  of  stable  consumption. 

Carrots  are  cultivated  in  the  United  States  by  many 
persons  as  food  for  horses,  as  a  substitute  for  oats.  To 
horses  of  draught,  or  slow  work,  carrots  may  be  fed  in 
greater  quantity  than  to  those  of  the  saddle  or  carriage 
The  chief  value  of  carrots  as  food  for  horses  lies  in  the 
pectic  acid  contained  in  them,  which  so  much  assists  diges- 
tion and  assimilation.  Horses  of  slow  work  will  thrive 
and  do  well  when  fed  on  six  pounds  of  carrots  and  eight 
pounds  of  corn-meal  in  the  day,  with  an  allowance  of  hay. 

Our  experience,  however,  has  been,  that  a  better  condi- 
tion of  horse  has  been  attained  with  the  same  quantity  of 
Swedish  or  yellow  turnips,  cut  in  slices  and  sprinkled  with 
corn-meal — a  feed  we  think  that  cannot  be  excelled  either 


90  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

in  the  conditioning  of  horses  or  the  economy  of  expendi- 
ture, and  a  better  substitute  for  green  food  than  the  carrot, 
which  we  are  sure  is  entirely  overrated  as  food  for  horses. 
This  is  easily  demonstrated  in  a  few  weeks'  trial ;  the  soft 
and  glossy  coat — the  healthy  look — the  elastic  step  and 
good  spirits  of  the  animal  so  fed,  will  attest  the  superiority 
of  the  Swedish  turnip.  A  trial  of  the  feeding  qualities  of 
the  yellow  turnip  will  not  only  satisfy  the  experimenter  of 
the  truth  of  the  high  character  here  given  of  it,  but  will 
induce  him  to  rely  upon  or  at  least  give  them  a  place 
among  other  articles  of  the  feed  of  his  horses.  We  have 
seen  farm  horses  employed  in  hauling  manure  or  plowing 
every  day  except  Sunday  during  the  winter  and  early 
spring,  kept  in  excellent  working  condition,  fed  on  turnij^s, 
hay  and  oat  straw,  twice  in  the  day,  or  morning  and  night, 
and  when  the  days  grew  longer  and  the  work  more  severe, 
a  few  quarts  of  oats  were  given  in  the  middle  of  the  day. 
We  have  seen  horses  fed  upon  carrots,  but  never  in  one 
instance  have  seen  a  generous  or  a  more  healthy  response 
on  account  of  them.  Now,  if  carrots  be  as  good  and 
healthy  for  horses  as  is  asserted,  a  corresponding  effect 
would  be  exhibited.  Without  this,  no  special  advantage 
can  truthfully  be  claimed  for  them  beyond  other  feeding 
substances  of  less  reputed  value  and  of  less  cost.  Medi- 
cine, like  some  speciality  of  feed,  has  its  value  from»  some 
inherent  property  it  contains,  and  is  recommended  for  a 
given  purpose,  but  sometimes  we  are  disappointed,  v/hen 
it  has  failed  to  accomplish  the  good  expected.     On  the 


FEEDING.  91 

whole,  we  think  that  the  good  name  given  to  carrots  as  a 
feed  for  the  horse  is  in  hooks  only,  and  cannot  be  substan- 
tiated by  the  most  careful  experiments.  We  have  only 
referred  to  this  variety  of  feed  for  horses  in  view  of  its 
utility,  and  not  because  of  its  economy,  on  which  considera- 
tion it  will  not  compare  favorably  with  many  other  articles 
of  less  money  value,  which  are  more  easily  procured,  and 
as  yet  are  not  so  well  known  to  horsemen. 

To  speak  of  the  uncertainty  of  the  carrot  crop  would  be 
unnecessary,  for  this  is  already  but  too  well  known  to 
require  comment.  But  of  the  turnip,  viewed  from  the 
same  aspect,  little  need  be  said.  When  properly  under- 
stood, it  rarely  disappoints  the  cultivator,  and  moreover, 
apart  from  all  consideration  as  a  feed  for  horses,  it  is  the 
basis  of  English  agriculture,  and  at  no  distant  day  will 
occupy  the  same  position  in  the  United  States : — First, 
because  it  is  one  of  the  very  best  articles  that  can  be 
fed  to  all  (or  nearly  all)  domestic  animals )  and  second,  the 
manure  from  animals  so  fed  is  of  the  highest  order.  Thus 
we  have  a  vegetable  easy  of  cultivation  and  growth,  which 
contains  several  properties,  possesses  several  distinct  cha- 
racteristics, and  is  used  for  many  different  purposes.  A 
trial  of  the  Swedish  turnip,  for  a  season,  as  a  part  of  the 
horse's  feed,  will  more  than  satisfy  the  inquiring  mind  of 
the  importance  of  our  recommendation.  We  have  spent 
ahnost  a  lifetime  in  the  study  of  some  of  the  domestic 
animals,  in  health  as  well  as  when  diseased,  and  in  our  pre- 


92  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

vious  writings'^  we  claim  tlie  credit,  at  least  in  some  mea- 
sure, of  produciDg  a  reform  in  many  essentials  relative  to 
the  treatment  of  the  horse.  This  is  our  only  excuse  for 
laying  a  stricture  upon  constituted  opinion  and  public 
belief  in  the  value  of  the  carrot  as  food  for  the  horse. 

Grass,  although  the  natural  food  of  the  horse  in  his 
wild  condition,  leaves  little  more  to  be  desired ;  yet,  it  is 
not  sufficient  to  meet  the  demands  of  his  nature  in  a  state 
of  domestication,  or  when  work  is  demanded  from  him,  and 
time  is  thus  taken  that  is  allowed  in  his  natural  state  to 
gather  food.  Some  kinds  of  grass  contain  more  nutriment 
than  others;  but  more,  we  think,  depends  upon  the  quality 
of  the  soil  upon  which  it  is  grown,  and  whether  it  is  too 
young  or  too  old,  or  has  ripened  and  its  seed  blown  away. 
If  a  horse  is  to  be  allowed  grass  merely  for  the  good  that 
is  expected  from  it,  and  not  for  any  other  consideration, 
the  better  way  will  be  to  soil  the  horse,  that  is,  by  daily 
cutting  and  bringing  in  the  grass  to  the  stable ;  but  if  the 
feet  of  the  horse  need  repairing  or  growing  down,  then 
select  for  the  pasture,  level  and  somewhat  moist  land. 
We  have  spoken  of  diseased  or  bad  feet  being  benefited  by 
soft  pasture,  because  no  disease  of  the  legs  or  shoulders 
will  be  benefited  by  a  run  at  pasture,  as  the  liberty  thus 
given  to  the  horse,  in  his  frolics  and   search  after  food. 


*  "  Diseases  in  the  American  Stable,  Field  and  Farm-yard," 
by  the  Editor  of  "  The  Horse  in  the  Stable  and  the  Field."  Por- 
ter &  Coates,  Philadelphia. 


FEEDING.  93 

often  renew  old  sprains  of  the  legs  and  slioulders,  thus 
rendering  them  incurable — the  horse  coming  home  to  the 
stable  worse  than  when  put  in  the  pasture. 

In  our  experience  of  many  years  in  the  pasturing  of  horses, 
we  cannot  recall  to  memory  a  single  instance  of  the  return 
of  a  city  or  stall-fed  horse,  in  anything  like  the  good  condi- 
tion it  had  when  taken  from  the  stable.  Some  of  the  more 
spirited  were  lame,  more  badly  blemished  about  the  body 
or  legs,  others  glandered  from  contagion.  Some  had 
been  used  without  authority  in  the  work  of  an  avaricious 
farmer;  the  shoulders  and  back  being  galled  by  the  use  of 
badly-fitting  harness,  giving  evidence  of  a  hard  task-master 
or  a  cruel  owner.  Some  horses  ^ere  drowned  in  ditches, 
others  had  legs  broken  and  had  to  be  destroyed,  and  many 
good  animals  were  stolen  and  never  recovered.  With  all 
these  drawbacks  against  pasturage  for  horses  in  the  spring 
of  each  and  every  year,  we  cannot  deny  that  the  young 
and  early  grass  is  the  very  best  of  both  food  and  medicine 
to  the  trained  and  domesticated  horse  of  all  our  large  cities. 
But  how  is  this  to  be  allowed  in  the  face  of  all  risks  to  life, 
limb,  and  the  change  of  hands  without  permission  or  an 
equivalent  ?  Seek  out  an  honest  farmer,  with  ample  accom- 
modations, fields  well  watered,  good  fences,  ground  not  too 
high  and  dry,  and  where  no  other  horses  are  taken  to  pas- 
ture, a  good  distance  from  a  city  or  large  town,  and  not 
convenient  to  the  public  highway.  These  precautions  are 
necessary  to  safety  from  abuse,  accidents  from  kicks  from 
other  horses;  and  the  distance  from  cities,  &c.,  together 


94  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

with  inconvenience  to  the  highway,  will,  in  a  great  degree, 
lessen  the  dangers  from  the  horse  thief. 

When  good  accommodations  cannot  be  readily  procured, 
let  the  milkman  be  engaged  to  bring  a  bundle  of  fresh-cut 
grass  every  morning  in  his  wagon,  for  from  two  to  three 
weeks,  which  will  be  long  enough  to  answer  every  good 
purpose  that  grass  can  accomplish.  When  this  is  adopted, 
it  is  but  following  in  the  wake  of  London  and  New  York 
in  this  particular,  where  fresh  grass  is  sold  by  the  bundle 
every  morning.  By  this  procedure,  all  the  grass  that  is- 
wanted  can  be  fed  to  the  valuable  horse,  without  running 
any  risk  whatever,  by  a  season  out  at  pasture.  By  the 
gradual  and  progressive  change  produced  by  a  few  weeks 
soiling  in  this  way,  the  horse  will  not  only  renew  his  spirits, 
but  like  the  eagle,  it  will  renew  his  youth,  and  be  the 
means  of  prolonging  his  days  of  usefulness. 

In  giving  grass  to  horses,  v»'hen  in  the  stable,  feed  spar- 
ingly at  first,  or  till  the  evidence  is  shown  in  the  dung-pit, 
by  the  green  color.  This  precaution  will  prevent  an  attack 
of  colic,  and  perhaps  the  loss  of  life  which  sometimes  occurs 
after  a  belly-full  of  grass,  particularly  when  wet.  In  turn- 
ing a  horse  out  to  grass,  let  him  be  a  little  tired,  so  that  he 
will  not  be  so  much  disposed  to  gallop  and  hurt  himself, 
and  place  him  on  a  bare  pasture  for  the  first  two  days,  to 
prevent  engorgement  of  the  stomach  and  the  production  of 
colic.  These  precautions  being  fully  attended  to,  the  horse 
may  be  placed  on  pasture  with  a  reasonable  expectation  of 
seeing  him  again,  and  in  as  good  condition  as  when  he 


FEEDING.  95 

went  out  of  the  stable.  If  the  pasture  be  high,  dry,  and 
hard,  then  plate-shoes  will  be  required  to  protect  the  walls 
of  the  fore  feet;  no  heels  nor  toes  should  be  allowed,  as 
they  stick  in  the  ground,  tear  off  the  shoes,  and  break  the 
hoof. 

Our  remarks  in  this  connection  have  been  entirely  con- 
fined to  city  horses  of  all  works ;  but  for  the  horse  of  the 
agriculturist,  it  will  be  found  much  more  profitable  to  have 
the  horses  soiled  by  cutting  and  carting  the  grass  in  to  the 
animals,  either  in  stable  or  farm-yard.  This  plan  will  obvi- 
ate the  necessity  of  superior  fencing.  No  grass  is  spoiled 
by  the  animals  treading  upon  it  in  the  field,  and  covering 
much  of  it  with  their  excrement.  The  extra  quantity  and 
quality  of  the  manure  thus  saved,  will  balance  the  extra 
labor  of  cutting  the  grass,  &c.  Old  horses,  and  those  stiff 
from  hard  work,  should  not  be  put  out  to  pasture,  especi- 
ally where  the  land  is  level,  as  it  is  very  difiicult  for  such 
animals  to  gather  the  food  from  the  ground.  Such  animals 
will  not  thrive  well  at  pasture,  but  will  do  better  when 
grass  is  fed  to  them  in  the  manger. 

In  pasturing  city  or  stable-fed  horses,  the  newly-found 
liberty,  together  with  the  difference  of  the  food,  will  for  a 
week  or  two  improve  their  condition,  and  they  will  appear 
perfectly  satisfied;  but  subsequently  they  lose  flesh,  and 
become  dissatisfied,  even  though  wading  to  the  knees  in 
the  finest  of  grass ;  they  long  for  the  stable,  to  be  tied  by 
the  head  and  associate  with  man.  In  the  summer  season, 
horses  should  be  kept  during  the  hottest  parts  of  the  day  in 
9 


96  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

the  stable  or  a  shed,  to  protect  them  from  the  sun  and  flies; 
they  can  be  turned  out  late  in  the  afternoon  or  evening 
for  the  night,  and  brought  to  the  shelter  by  9  or  10  o'clock 
next  morning.  Horses  on  late  or  second  crop-grass  and 
clover  of  the  season  will  not  thrive  well,  as  the  cool  nights 
acidulate  the  juices  and  cause  slobbering  (salivation) 
from  the  mouth  and  salivary  glands ;  this  is  a  loss  to  the 
stomach  in  digestion  and  assimilation. 

Timothy  hay,  we  believe,  for  the  last  forty  years  has 
been  in  extensive  use  for  feeding  city  horses,  and  by  com- 
mon consent  it  is  considered  to  be  the  best  of  all  the  dried 
grasses.  So  firmly  fixed  is  this  opinion  of  horsemen  on 
the  subject,  that  it  would  be  a  matter  of  supererogation, 
were  we  to  attempt  to  convince  them  otherwise.  Cats-tail 
or  timothy  grass — Phleum  pratense,  is  the  great  American 
grass,  and  is  called'  Timothy  from  a  Mr.  Timothy  Hanson, 
who  was  the  first  to  introduce  it,  and  no  doubt  it  is  one 
of  the  most  valuable  grasses  of  the  country.  There  are 
several  varieties  of  timothy  which  we  will  not  describe, 
but  suffice  to  say,  that  the  timothy  of  Pennsylvania  is  the 
Herd^s  grass  of  New  England,  and  the  Red-Top  of  the 
Middle  States,  a  variety  which  the  farmers  of  Pennsylvania 
will  not  grow  ]  they  reject  all  seeds  containing  Herd's  grass. 
The  value  of  timothy  hay  depends  a  great  deal  upon  its 
quality,  not  only  in  its  being  well  and  properly  cured,  but 
upon  the  soil  upon  which  it  has  been  grown.  Timothy 
grass  requires  for  its  full  and  perfect  growth  a  heavy  clay 
soil ;  without  this  the  product  will  be  poor,  both  in  quality 


FEEDING.  97 

and  quantity.  It  exhausts  the  land,  and  after  a  year  or 
two  kills  every  other  grass  that  may  have  been  sown  with 
it.  So  exhausting  to  the  soil  and  so  selfish  is  it  in  its 
growth,  that  were  it  not  for  the  great  demand  for  it  in  all 
large  cities  for  the  exclusive  use  of  horses,  in  a  short  time 
not  a  blade  of  it  would  be  grown.  Farmers  who  are  in 
the  habit  of  selling  hay  from  their  farms  for  spending 
money,  are  not  the  persons  to  give  up  the  growing  of  that 
which  is  in  demand  at  so  good  a  price,  even  though  the 
land  should  suffer. 

Timothy  hay  is,  in  our  estimation,  not  only  over-estimated 
by  stablemen,  but  more  costly  by  twenty  to  thirty  per  cent, 
than  other  varieties  of  hay  equally  nutritious  and  more 
healthy  for  horses  that  do  not  work  more  than  one  day  in 
seven. 

Timothy  hay  should  be  cut  before  the  seeds  are  ripe,  for 
in  them  lies  much  of  the  value  as  hay.  Timothy  without 
the  seeds  is  the  poorest  of  feed.  The  stalk  should  be  of  a 
greenish  hue  (not  dry,  hard,  brittle,  brown),  and  of  a  good 
sound  sweet  smell,  free  from  dust,  and  all  the  better  if 
mixed  with  clover.  This  latter  consideration  is  good  evi- 
dence that  the  land  upon  which  it  was  grown  was  not  so 
far  exhausted  that  the  clover  had  died  out  from  among  the 
timothy,  and  that  the  land  had  not  been  burdened  by  a 
continued,  or  from-year-to-year  crop  of  timothy. 

The  quantity  of  timothy  fed  to  horses  varies  with  the 
size,  age,  work,  and  make  of  the  animal.  Horses  of  slow 
work,  and  employed  ten  to  twelve  hours  per  day,  will  eat 


98  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

sixteen  to  twenty  pounds,  of  which  a  portion  should  be  cut 
and  mixed  with  the  evening  meal,  thus  allowing  the  tired 
horse  to  lie  down  sooner  than  he  would  were  he  to  prepare 
so  much  hay  for  himself.  Large  carriage-horses  may  be 
fed  twelve  to  sixteen  pounds ;  smaller,  driving,  and  saddle- 
horses  will  require  less,  and  the  hay  should  be  fed  exclu- 
sively to  them  at  night.  The  quantity  thus  named  is 
merely  proximate,  for  if  the  oats  and  other  feed  be  of  good 
quality,  perhaps  a  little  less  hay  will  be  required,  and  vice 
vet'sa.  But  when  the  hay  is  not  good,  do  not  give  it  in 
greater  quantity,  but  increase  the  cjuantity  of  oats  and 
corn. 

In  this  connection  it  may  be  well  to  state  that  the  size 
of  the  belly  is  the  index  to  some  persons  as  to  the  quantity 
of  hay  required.  This  indication,  however,  is  not  a  good 
criterion,  because  pony-built  horses,  or  those  that  are  w^ell 
ribbed  home,  may  become  diseased  from  not  having  feed 
in  sufficient  hulk,  and  yet  present  a  full  belly.  And,  fur- 
thermore, a  fleet  and  free  horse,  light-bellied,  and  not  well- 
ribbed  home  at  the  flanks,  will  not  show  a  full  belly, 
though  fed  with  all  the  hay  that  he  will  eat.  The  safe 
criterion  in  such  matters  is  to  give  to  the  horse  of  slow 
work  all  that  nature  demands,  and  to  those  of  faster  work, 
all  feed  of  bulk  at  nights,  or  after  the  daily  drive  or  ride 
is  over.     (See  how  Dexter  is  fed,  ante,  p.  70). 

The  daily  requirements  of  a  horse  weighing  938  pounds 
is,  22  pounds  of  hay,  4J  pounds  of  oats,  and  66  pounds  of 
water ;  and  that  of  a  milch  cow  amounts  to  one-thirtieth  of 


FEEDING.  99 

the  corporeal  weight  ia  hay,  and  two-fifteenths  in  water,  or 
one-sixth  ia  both  together. 

Clover  Hay. — In  Philadelphia,  this  variety  of  hay  is 
commonly  known  by  the  name  of  "■  Coio"  hay,  illustrating 
the  contempt  the  stablemen  entertain  for  this  excellent 
variety  of  feed,  in  their  judgment  being  only  fit  for  the  less 
noble  but  nevertheless  queenly  cow,  and  as  if  utterly  unfit 
for  the  more  noble  and  sagacious  horse  to  feed  or  even  look 
upon.  This  is  better  illustrated  by  the  craving  of  the  dys- 
peptic and  the  sick  for  the  plain  and  not  over-substantial 
but  healthy  dinner  of  the  poor. 

It  is  at  all  times  questionable  policy  to  constantly  persist 
in  feeding  with  material  that  costs  more,  but  predisposes  to 
disease,  especially  of  the  liver.  A  healthy  liver  is  rarely 
found  in  a  city-«tabled  horse  of  a  few  years,  which  has  been 
fed  upon  the  usual  feed,  consisting  of  oats,  corn,  corn-meal, 
some  bran,  ship-stuff,  and  the  common  allowance  of  timothy 
hay. 

The  city  carriage-horse  and  saddle-cob,  with  an  easy  life, 
are  not  unlike  some  of  their  owners — possessors  of  a  for- 
tune, together  with  a  degree  of  hepatitis  that,  by  a  little 
consideration,  could  have  been  avoided.  In  like  manner, 
the  same  diflficulty  can  be  prevented  in  the  horse  by  the 
opening  and  cooling  properties  of  a  bundle  of  sound  clover 
(cow)  hay,  so  seldom  seen  in  the  stable  of  the  gentleman 
of  the  city,  and  which  is  so  unjustly  despised  as  a  feed  for 
the  horse 

The  principal  objections  raised  against  clover  hay  are, 
9^ 


100  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

the  dust  and  the  liability  to  give  rise  to  heaves  and  broken 
wind  in  the  horse  so  fed.  To  this  we  say,  from  ample 
experience,  we  do  not  deny  but  that  horses  fed  upon 
clover  hay  in  the  manner  that  hay  is  given,  will  occasionally 
have  thickening  of  the  wind ;  but  it  must  be  remembered 
that  many  horses  fed  upon  timothy  become  similarly  dis- 
eased. This  being  the  case;  it  cannot  be  wholly  ascribed 
to  the  quality  or  kind  of  hay  that  is  used.  We  may  easily 
account  for  this  being  more  frequent  in  the  horse  fed  with 
clover  hay  than  one  fed  with  timothy,  when  we  consider  the 
quantity  of  clover  horses  will  consume  in  comparison  with 
that  of  any  other  variety  of  hay  fed  to  animals  of  all  work. 
It  is  the  quantity  and  not  the  quality  that  gives  rise  to  this 
complaint  against  clover  hay.  Are  all  the  cases  of  thick 
and  broken  wind  encountered  in  the  city,  caused  by  a  hay 
that  they  never  saw  or  fed  upon  ?  The  abuse  of  a  feed 
cannot  stand  as  an  argument  against  its  usefulness,  for  if 
this  be  the  case,  is  there  anything  perfectly  harmless  when 
overdone  or  misapplied  ?  We  will  not  enter  at  length  into 
the  inquiry  as  to  the  cause  of  broken  wind,  our  object 
being  merely  to  show  that  anything,  either  food  or  water, 
given  in  bulk  at  a  time  when  the  ride  or  the  drive 
may  shortly  after  be  exacted  from  a  full-bellied  horse, 
will  prove  injurious.  The  question  may  be  satisfactorily 
settled  by  a  glance  at  the  ravenous-feeding  and  pot-bellied 
horse  as  the  victim  of  heaves.  Who  ever  saw  a  thin,  fleet, 
free,  light,  and  spare-feeding  horse  affected  with  broken 
wind,  feed  him  as  you  \^11  ? 


FEEDING.  101 

Before  the  advent  of  steam  as  a  means  of  reaching  dis- 
tant points,  when  horses  were  the  engine,  and  at  a  time 
when  clover  hay  was  fed  to  horses  as  it  is  at  the  present 
time  in  the  rural  or  country  districts,  and  when  timothy 
hay  was  unknown  and  not  cultivated,  we  have  concurrent 
testimony  to  show  that  broken  wind  in  the  horse  was  not 
so  frequent  as  it  now  is,  nor  were  diseases  among  horses  so 
prevalent. 

Those  who  are  disposed  to  give  this  kind  of  hay  a  fair 
trial  as  a  feed  to  their  horses,  should  measure  or  weigh 
the  hay  as  you  would  the  oats  or  corn,  and  give  it  at  stated 
periods  of  time,  chiefly  at  night,  when  the  ride  or  drive 
for  the  day  is  over;  and  as  before  stated,  allow  no  hay  of 
any  kind,  especially  to  driving  or  saddle  horses,  during  the 
daytime.  By  this  course  little  anxiety  may  be  felt  as  to 
causing  broken  wind.  Clover  hay  is  a  medicine  to  the 
sick  or  tired  horse,  and  he  will  eat  of  it  when  he  will  touch 
nothing  else.  It  is  equal  to  fresh-cut  grass  for  changing 
both  the  excretions  and  secretions  of  horses,  thereby 
removing  bad  smells  from  the  stable  and  the  body  of  the 
animal.  The  straw-colored  dung  indicates  an  unhealthy 
condition  of  horse,  but  it  is  at  once  made  healthy  and 
darkened  to  a  brown  or  good  color  by  clover  hay.  Being 
less  in  price  and  less  quantity  being  required  to  be  fed,  it 
also  obviates  the  necessity  for  the  bi-weekly  or  tri-weekly 
bran-mash  usually  fed  to  the  horse. 

To  those  who  may  have  doubts  of  the  value  of  clover 
hay,  and  regard  it  as  liable  to  give  rise  to  diseased  wind, 


102 


AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 


we  would  say,  do  not  occasiontillj  deny  a  bundle  of  good 
clover  hay,  if  it  be  but  for  a  relish  and  a  change  to  your 
horses,  even  though  other  kinds  of  hay  be  used  as  regular 
feed.  To  avoid  the  dust  from  clover  hay,  it  is  advisable 
to  feed  it  from  the  manger  and  not  from  the  rack  over  the 
head  of  the  horse. 

There  are,  like  timothy  and  other  grasses,  several  kinds 
of  clover,  although  the  red  clover  (  Trifolliim  pratense)  is 


"Telegraph"  liny  and  Straw  Cutter. 


generally  meant,  and  not  the  marl  or  cow-grass  (TVt- 
folium  medmtii),  which  latter  name,  independent  perhaps 
of  any  other  consideration,  may  be  the  origin  of  the 
appellation  of  "  cow-hay,"  as  applied  to  clover  by  the  sta- 
blemen of  Philadelphia.  The  second  year's  crop  or  cut  of 
clover  is  perhaps,  when  all  circumstances  are  regarded,  the 
best  hay  for  horses  of  all  kinds  and  of  all  work,  as  at  this 
time  about  one-third  will  be  composed  of  timothy,  making 


FEEDING.  103 

a  valuable  mixture,  more  healthy  and  not  open  to  the 
objection  of  the  Ji^'st  year's  cut,  which  has  little  timothy 
in  it.  The  great  value  of  clover,  as  well  as  other  varieties 
of  hay  depends  upon  the  time  of  cutting,  and  the  manner 
in  which  it  has  been  prepared  for  the  barn  or  stack. 

Bran  is  the  skin  or  husk  of  grain,  especially  of  wheat, 
when  ground  and  separated  by  the  bolter  or  sieve.  When 
fed  to  animals,  it  is  laxative,  and  for  this  purpose  it  is  fed 
to  horses  at  stated  times  as  a  mash.  This  is  a  custom  in- 
troduced into  the  American  stable  from  Europe,  and  which 
we  and  our  horses  can  do  very  well  without,  as  the  injury 
we  have  seen  done  by  feeding  bran  to  horses  that  positively 
required  a  more  substantial  feed  is  very  great.  The  theory 
that  introduces  bran  into  the  horse  stable,  is  as  pernicious 
in  its  effects  as  the  indiscriminate  use  of  bran  itself  at  the 
whim  of  the  stablemen.  This  theory  is,  that  every  sick 
or  tired  horse  must  be  fed  upon  bran-mashes. 

Horsemen  have  not  yet  learned  that  most  diseases  of  the 
horse  are  characterized  by  a  weak  or  typhoid  condition, 
and  not  by  inflammatory  action.  Hence,  it  is  injurious  to 
the  horse  to  have  his  bowels  loosened  or  blood  drawn,  as 
he  requires  tonics  and  stimulants,  with  sound  and  substan- 
tial food.  Unlock  the  bowels  of  a  horse  laboring  under 
inflammatory  disease  even,  and  they  will  not  stop  till  death 
puts  an  end  to  his  sufferings.  Feed  a  healthy  grain-fed 
horse  for  from  two  to  four  days  upon  hay  and  bran,  and 
the  animal  will  swell  either  on  the  breast,  along  the  belly, 
sheath  or  all  four  legs ;  and  sometimes  all  can  be  seen  swol- 


104:  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

len,  from  tlie  debilitating  and  innutritions  substance  called 
bran ;  and  yet  it  is  expected  and  belie^-ed,  though  never 
seen,  that  bran-mashes  will  prevent  disease  and  cure  the 
sick,  and  that  it  is  in  every  wav  adapted  to  the  horse,  sick 
or  well. 

The  analysis  and  microscopical  examinations  of  bran  now 
lies  before  me,  made  by  men  the  world  is  pleased  to  call 
scientific  and  competent;  and  yet  we  are,  after  twenty  years' 
\7el\-seas0ned  experience  in  the  feeding  of  horses,  compelled 
to  say  that  if  what  is  said  by  them  of  the  nutritiousness  of 
bran  be  true,  it  is  then  in  such  combination  as  to  render 
it  unfit  for  food  to  the  horse,  sick  or  well,  idle  or  at  work, 
and  he  will  soon  sink  from  exhaustion  if  bran  enters  largely 
into  his  daily  allowance  of  food.  A  little  bran,  with  other 
and  more  substantial  articles,  may  be  occasionally  given, 
but  not  in  suflacient  quantity  to  loosen  the  bowels,  nor  be 
counted  to  the  horse  as  equal  to  so  much  other  solid  food, 
for  in  doing  so  you  deceive  yourself  and  cheat  the  horse. 
Other  varieties  of  mill-feed  might  be  mentioned  in  this 
connection,  but  our  space  is  limited. 

The  Egyptian  and  horse-bean,  the  pea  or  vetch,  Alsike 
clover,  rye-grass,  salt,  flaxseed,  &c.,  &c.,  in  some  parts  of 
the  world  enter  largely  into  the  feed  of  horses,  and  are 
no  doubt  very  good,  but  many  of  them  have  not  yet 
received  that  attention  from  our  agriculturists  that  they 
deserve.  We  will  now  close  this  already  too  long  chapter  on 
the  various  articles  of  horse  feed  that  are  produced,  sold 
and  used  in  our  stables.     In  concluding,  we  will  simply 


FEEDING. 


105 


state,  that  partially  cooking  the  food  will  be  found  of  great 
advantage,  especially  to  the  draught  and  slow- worked  horse ; 
much  will  be  thereby  saved  to  the  pocket  of  the  owner,  and 
it  is  a  practice  highly  to  be  commended.  For  this  purpose, 
no  better  apparatus  can  be  found  than  one  of  Prindle's 
steamers,  which  can  be  used  not  only  with  safety  but 
economy  for  every  purpose  about  a  stable  for  which  a  stove 
is  used.  One  of  the  smallest  size  will  not  only  generate 
steam  which  can  be  conveyed  through  pipes  to  any  part  of 
the  stable  for  heating  purposes,  but  to  the  coach,  harness 
or  sleeping  rooms,  and  with  a  properly  closed  box-stall,  a 
Turkish  bath  can  be  heated  perfectly  by  one  of  these 
steamers.     No  stable  should  be  without  one. 

WEIGHT  PER  BUSHEL  OF  ARTICLES  OF  HORSE  FEED. 


Barley     . 

. 

.     47 

Corn 

.     58 

Coarse  salt 

.     85 

Ground  salt 

. 

.     70 

Fine  salt 

. 

.     62 

Oats 

• 

.      32 

Rye 

.      58 

Flaxseed 

, 

.     51 

47  pounds. 


106 


AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 


The  above  cut  represents  one  of  Princlle's  Agricultural 
Steam  Boilers.  It  can  be  used  for  cooking  food  for  stock, 
heating  water  for  any  purpose,  and  by  connection  with  iron 
pipe  it  will  heat  and  dry  the  carriage-house,  harness-room, 
grapery,  green-house  or  conservatory,  even  though  a  long 
distance  from  it.  Thus  we  have  a  heater,  kettle,  steam 
boiler,  portable  furnace  or  stove,  with  safety  valve,  insuring 
against  explosion  or  collapse. 


FEEDING. 


107 


The  above  cut  represents  the  Prindle  Steamer  as  an 
open  cauldron  and  furnace,  or  portable  stove.  In  this  con- 
dition it  may  be  used  for  boiling  purposes  with  water 
without  steam  attachments. 


10 


CHAPTEE  V. 

STABLE  WORK. 

Cleansing  and  Airing  the  Stable — Straightening  the  Blankets — 
Waterbrushing  the  Quarters — Feeding  and  Watering — Di'essing 
or  Grooming — Shaking  doAvn  the  Beds  and  Tidying  the  Stable — 
Exercise — Blanketing — Bandages — Tying — Care  of  the  Feet — 
Treatment  after  Work — Bedding — Rye  Straw — Sawdust — Forest 
Leaves — Oat  Straw — Salt,  Marsh,  and  Meadow  or  Natural  Hay 
— Tan-bark — Stable  Vices — Kicking — Biting — Shying — Rolling 
— Cribbing — Breaking  Loose — Tearing  the  Blankets — Vicious 
to  clean, 

It  is  of  the  utmost  importance  wliere  animals  are  con- 
fined, tied  by  the  head,  and  dependent  upon  man  for  what 
they  eat,  drink,  and,  we  had  almost  said,  the  air  they 
breathe,  as  well  as  for  other  matters  upon  which  good 
health  and  condition  depend,  that  good  ventilation  be 
insured,  and  the  greatest  regularity  enforced  as  to  the  open- 
ing of  the  stable  in  the  morning  and  freeing  it  from  the  ac- 
cumulation of  carbonic  and  ammoniacal  gases ;  also  in  feed- 
ing and  watering  the  horses,  cleaning  the  stable,  squaring 
the  blankets,  and  brushing  the  dirty  quarters  or  hips. 

(108) 


CLEANING    AND    AIRING    THE    STABLE.  109 

The  free  ventilation  relieves  the  eyes  and  breathing 
apparatus,  and  the  blood  from  morphological  change.  The 
regularity  of  feeding  and  watering  at  certain  or  stated 
times  favors  and  promotes  the  functions  of  digestion,  and 
in  a  great  measure  prevents  windy  or  flatulent  colic,  which 
can  often  be  traced  to  irregularity  of  feeding  and  length  of 
time  between  the  hours  chosen  for  such  purposes.  In  sup- 
port of  the  latter  distinction,  as  a  cause  of  colic,  we  have 
but  to  refer  to  the  period  before  the  advent  of  railroads, 
and  when  it  was  but  too  common  to  feed  horses  twice  daily, 
morning  and  night.  The  hunger  being  excessive,  the  ani- 
mal would  eat  too  much  and  too  fast,  paralyzing  the  func- 
tions of  the  stomach  ;  fermentation  and  the  evolution  of 
carbonic  acid  gas  took  place,  causing  colic,  often  ending 
fatally.  The  horse  would  be  found  dead  in  the  morning  in 
his  stall,  without  any  assignable  cause.  This  could  have 
been  averted  by  giving  a  smaller  feed,  or  better  by  allow- 
ing the  hungry  horse  to  eat  hay,  straw,  or  some  other 
rough  or  bulky  material,  for  one  or  two  hours,  so  as 
to  partly  fill  the  stomach,  and  in  a  slow  manner,  before 
the  more  nutritious  and  concentrated  corn  or  oats  were 
given. 

For  horses  that  through  the  force  of  circumstances,  can- 
not be  fed  at  regular  intervals,  and  at  short  periods,  be 
particular  to  allow  hay  for  at  least  one  hour  before  the 
more  solid  feed  is  given.  To  insure  regularity,  as  far 
as  possible  at  least,  on  the  part  of  the  groom,  he  must  be 
a  sober  person  and  not  given  to  debauch  during  the  night, 


110  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

that  liis  attendance  at  a  regular  hour  in  the  morning  at 
the  stable  be  not  interfered  with — •'  no  man  can  serve  two 
masters."  On  going  into  the  stable  in  the  morning,  a  per- 
sonal inspection  of  each  horse  should  be  made  to  ascertain 
if  the  foot  is  over  the  halter,  or  the  eyes  have  suffered  an 
injury,  or  whether  there  be  a  shoe  loose,  &c.  Next,  see 
that  the  means  for  ventilation  are  open  and  free  from 
obstruction,  and  thus  the  mercury  will  be  reduced  from 
5°  to  10°;  and  if  possible  keep  it  steady.  The  covers, 
sheets  or  blankets  should  at  this  time  be  straightened  on 
the  body  of  the  horse,  always  taking  care,  especially  in 
cold  weather,  to  throw  them  well  toward  the  withers,  so 
that  they  can  be  pulled  toward  the  hind  quarters  or  the 
way  the  hair  or  coat  lies,  so  that  it  can  be  kept  smooth  and 
unbroken. 

The  Water-brush  should  now  be  brought,  with  a  little 
tepid  water  and  soap  to  brush  and  cleanse  the  quarters  or 
hips  and  thighs  of  each  horse,  that  have  been  roughed  and 
stained  during  the  night  when  lying.  This  is  especially 
required  with  white  and  gray  horses  to  keep  them  clean, 
always  brushing  and  drying  the  parts  downwards  with  the 
hair.  Dirty  or  roughened  quarters  on  the  carriage,  saddle, 
or  driving  horse  are  utterly  inexcusable  on  the  part  of  the 
groom,  and  should  never  be  allowed  in  summer  time ;  but 
in  cold  weather  and  when  the  horse  is  out  early,  the  parts 
may  not  b-e  yet  dry — less  can  be  said  when  the  parts  are  not 
altogether  pleasing.  The  same  rules  may  be  exacted  when 
a  fine  horse  has  a  white  hind  foot  and  part  of  the  leg,  with 


FEEDING    AND    WATERING.  Ill 

this  difference,  a  soft  woollen  bandage  can  be  wrapped 
loosely  around  it,  by  which  it  will  in  a  very  short  time  be 
completely  dry  by  heat  and  evaporation.  These  few,  but 
necessary  preparations  need  not  consume  many  minutes  of 
time,  but  will  add  to  the  health  of  the  horse,  facilitate  the 
operation  of  grooming,  and  insure  a  smooth  coat  of  hair  on 
all  parts  of  the  body.  A  portion  of  the  food,  water,  or  per- 
haps the  whole  allowance  of  either,  may  now  be  given  to 
each  horse.  Some  grooms  prefer  to  give  the  water  before 
the  oats  or  feed,  others  give  the  feed  and  follow  with  the 
water,  when  the  feed  is  eaten.  Still,  others  feed  and  water 
in  half  quantities  at  a  time — two  waterings  and  two  feeds 
in  the  morning,  in  the  manner  the  celebrated  horse  Dexter 
is  fed  (page  70).  Whether  water  or  corn  be  first  fed  to 
the  horse  in  the  morning  is  like  some  other  questions  in 
the  care  of  horses,  which  can  only  be  satisfactorily  answered 
by  stating  that  when  horses,  their  nature,  health,  and  work 
are  all  alike,  then,  and  then  only  can  treatment  of  them 
be  fairly  fixed. 

Horses  of  slow  work  that  are  not  over-excited  and  warm 
when  they  arrive  at  the  stable  in  the  evening,  can  have  as 
much  wat-er  given  to  them  as  is  necessary  without  injury; 
such  animals  can  be  fed  or  watered  in  the  order  the  groom 
may  choose,  but  horses  for  light  harness  or  the  saddle,  and 
that  perform  their  work  in  from  two  to  four  hours  out  of 
the  twenty-four,  and  arrive  at  the  stable  very  warm,  and 
sometimes  at  a  late  hour  in  the  night,  cannot  with  safety 
be  allowed  much  cold  water  to  drink,  and  tepid  water  will 
10- 


112  AMERICx\N    STABLE    GUIDE. 

not  satisfactorily  allay  the  cravings  of  a  thirsty  and  tired 
animal.  Horses  placed  under  such  circumstances,  very 
often  teach  the  groom  that  the  bucket  of  cold  water  is 
preferable  to  the  measure  of  corn,  by  the  refusal  to  eat 
till  water  be  first  given.  There  are  again  some  horses 
of  all  work  that  are  so  healthy  and  hearty  that  they 
will  not  drink  till  after  the  allowance  of  feed  has  been 
eaten,  and  on  this  account  are  often  unjustly  dealt  with 
through  indifference  or  ignorance  of  the  groom  in  not 
watering  after  the  morning  meal  has  been  consumed. 

While  the  horses  are  feeding,  the  bedding  may  be  shaken 
up,  the  good  separated  from  the  dirty,  and  the  stalls  as 
well  as  the  floor  swept  clean.  The  stable  drains  and  stench- 
trap,  especially  in  warm  weather,  should  be  washed  with  a 
broom  and  water;  in  winter  by  keeping  the  drains  clear 
of  straw  and  dung,  washing  is  not  so  often  necessary  nor 
desirable.  The  stableman  may  now  eat  breakfast  with  as 
little  disturbance  as  the  horse.  This  is  important — for 
Punch  intimates  that  when  a  gentleman  wants  a  thing 
done,  the  best  way  is  for  him  to  do  it  himself;  which  is 
illustrated  by  the  gentleman  exercising  the  horses  whilst 
the  grooms  are  enjoying  their  beef  and  beer,  for  upon  their 
enjoyment  depends  their  good  nature  for  the  rest  of  the 
day.  Without  over-indulgence,  however,  the  stableman 
may  at  this  time  leave  the  stable,  as  the  custom  is  not  to 
groom  a  horse  in  his  stall,  especially  when  feeding;  and  it 
is  not  advisable ;  besides  it  would  be  attended  with  danger 
to  the  groom  from  a  spirited   horse.     Moreover,  time  is 


DRESSING    OR    GROOMING.  113 

allowed  for  the  white  leg  and  washed  quarters  to  become 
dry  before  an  attempt  is  made  to  groom  them.  On  the 
return  from  breakfast,  dressing  or  grooming  may  be  com- 
menced. 

The  thorough-bred  groom  or  stableman  may  not  be 
taught  much  from  us,  as  to  the  utility  and  manner  of 
grooming  horses ;  but  unfortunately  all  persons  employed 
in  our  stables,  public  and  private,  are  not  proficient,  nor 
are  they  of  the  most  intelligent  of  our  citizens  even  in 
regard  to  this  their  calling,  which  most  have  adopted  not 
from  choice,  but  necessity.  The  owners  of  horses  and 
employers  of  stablemen  with  us  are  mostly  business  men,  or 
merchants,  who  have  little  or  no  time  or  thought  to  give 
to  the  stable  and  its  management,  and  moreover  as  a  whole 
are  not  well  "  posted"  as  to  stable  requirements  or  necessi- 
ties, and  are  often  imposed  upon  because  of  their  want  of 
knowledge.  These  we  now  address,  when  discussing  how 
and  when  the  affairs  of  their  stables  should  be  attended  to, 
together  with  the  effects  upon  horses,  harness,  &c.,  of  such 
care  as  is  bestowed  upon  them. 

GrROOMiNG  may  be  properly  defined  the  cleaning  and 
dressing  of  the  external  form  or  outer  skin  of  the  horse, 
but  by  lexicographers  it  includes  feeding  also.  Of  this, 
however,  we  have  already  spoken,  and  therefore  will  only 
allude  to  ^^  cleaning''  a  horse,  which  is  performed  in  as 
many  different  ways  as  there  are  different  degrees  in  its 
perfection,  and  final  effects  or  results  upon  the  horse.  The 
full  or  grand  result  of  a  perfect  system  of  grooming  horses 


114  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

can  only  be  seen  in  animals  of  a  high  standard  of  health, 
and  which  cannot  in  all  cases  be  gained  by  a  perfect  plan 
of  grooming  alone,  but  by  other  considerations,  as  good 
feeding,  stabling,  &c.  In  addition,  nor  will  those  latter  in 
their  utmost  perfection,  attain  so  desirable  an  end  without 
the  careful  performance  of  the  former.  Although  separate 
and  distinct  in  their  application  to  the  horse,  they  are 
inseparable  from  a  healthful  development. 

The  implements  or  appliances  that  are  necessary  and 
used  in  the  private  stable  of  the  gentleman,  are  more  in 
number  but  not  less  in  effect  than  those  found  in  stables 
of  less  pretensions.  They  consist  of  the  curry-comb, 
familiar  to  everybody,  made  of  iron,  with  saw-teethed  bars, 
of  much  use  on  the  hair  of  heavy  draught  horses  in  winter, 
but  of  very  doubtful  applicability  in  summer  on  the  fine 
and  thin  hair  of  all  horses,  particularly  of  fine  bred 
animals.  For  the  heavy  horse,  the  curry-comb  is  the 
first  implement  brought  into  use  in  the  act  of  grooming, 
and  is  used  to  ruffle  and  tease  the  hair  to  remove  dust  and 
dandruff  from  the  skin.  This  use  of  the  curry-comb,  we 
have  for  many  years  opposed,  because  in  cold  and  frosty 
seasons,  the  more  closely  the  hair  lies  to  the  skin,  the 
warmer  and  more  comfortable  will  the  animal  be ;  there- 
fore, the  curry-comb  if  used  at  all,  should  be  drawn  the 
way  the  hair  lies  and  not  against  it.  The  most  important 
use  to  which  the  curry-comb  can  be  applied,  is  to  remove 
the  dust  from  the  broad  bristle  or  body-brush,  by  drawing 
the  f\ice   of   the  brush  against  the   teeth   of   the   comb. 


DRESSING    OR    GROOMING.  115 

This  brush  is  perhaps  the  most  useful  and  indispensable 
of  grooming  implements,  but,  like'  the  iron  comb,  is  liable 
to  abuse,  by  using  it  against  the  lay  of  the  hair  on  well- 
bred  animals  in  cold  weather.  It  should  be  used  as  little 
as  possible  in  winter.  For  the  body  in  cold  weather,  the 
hay  (meadow  or  natural)  wisp,  which  is  soft,  should  alone 
be  used,  and  is  made  as  follows  :  make  a  thick  but  soft 
hay  rope,  cast  it  into  a  knot,  and  flatten  against  a  smooth 
wall  or  post,  after  which  the  flattened  face  of  it  should  be 
slightly  moistened  with  water  to  soften  the  wisp  still  more. 
There  is  no  cloth  or  other  wisp  equal  to  this  for  the  fine- 
skinned  animal.  It  not  only  removes  dust,  but  soothes  the 
skin,  smooths  the  hair,  and  gives  the  coat  a  healthy 
appearance.  It  is  more  satisfactory  to  the  horse,  and 
should  be  almost  exclusively  used  for  summer  grooming 
of  all  horses,  especially  for  the  thorough -bred  animal. 
Where  the  curry-comb  and  brush  are  used,  the  wisp  should 
be  employed  to  complete  the  task  before  putting  on  the 
blanket. 

In  winter,  horses  of  fine  breed  should  be  groomed  in  a 
place  not  colder  than  the  temperature  of  the  stable,  and  if 
no  such  place  be  convenient,  do  it  in  the  stable,  and  after 
the  grooming  clean  with  a  brush  or  feather  duster,  all  the 
fixtures  and  furniture. 

The  dandruff"-brush  (called  "  dandy-brush"),  made  of 
stiff",  yellow,  woody  fibre,  can  now  be  used  to  dress  the 
forelock,  mane,  and  tail.  This  is  considered  not  so  liable 
to  tear  the  hair  out,  like  the  old  bone  comb,  which  many 


116  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

still  use.  The  dandy-brush  is  an  excellent  and  almost 
indispensable  article  of  the  stable,  and  is  used  with  advan- 
tage and  effect  on  the  body  and  legs  of  horses  that  come 
in  warm,  for  straightening  the  hair,  and  removing  dandruff 
and  other  foreign  matter. 

The  moist  sponge  should  now  be  used  to  wipe  the  eyes, 
nose,  &c.  The  hoofs  may  also  be  attended  to  in  like  man- 
ner, and,  if  time  and  taste  will  admit,  some  hoof  ointment, 
colored  to  match  the  hoofs,  can  be  applied  to  them  with 
advantage.  For  this  purpose,  the  "  resin  ointment"  of 
the  drug-stores  will  do,  or  equal  portions  of  the  oil  of  tar, 
whale  or  sweet  oil,  colored  as  above. 

The  beds  should  now  be  shaken,  but  thinly,  over  the 
stalls,  and  a  little  out  on  the  floor  of  th-e  stable;  the 
"  plate'^  laid  down,  or  the  "  roll"  be  made,  to  give  a  tidy 
and  tasty  appearance  to  the  stable.  To  carry  this  taste  a 
little  further,  a  four-inch  fold  of  the  blanket  or  sheet  may 
be  turned  upon  itself  on  the  quarter^  of  the  horse,  and  the 
part  thus  made  bare,  or  a  portion  of  it,  changed  in  shade 
by  four  scores  with  a  clean  brush,  leaving  a  square  or  dia- 
mond in  the  centre,  as  the  taste  may  be,  of  a  different 
shade  or  lay  of  hair,  which  is  very  pleasing  in  effect  and 
shows  good  grooming  and  taste.  If  the  horses  have  been 
on  a  journey  the  previous  day  and  are  fatigued,  a  good  bed 
should  be  allowed,  so  that  the  horse  can  lie  down.  We 
have  never  seen  horses  injured  by  resting  too  much,  but  on 
the  contrary,  by  too  much  standing,  thus  wearing  out  both 
feet  and  legs.     That  the  legs  may  wear  well  vrith  the  body, 


TIDYING    THE    STABLE.  117 

let  the  head  down,  darken  the  stable,  and  give  good  bedding 
to  the  stall :  thus  the  legs  and  feet  of  many  an  excellent 
horse  will  be  made  comfortable,  and  wear  many  years 
longer  than  by  a  diiferent  and  inconsiderate  treatment. 
The  latter  consideration  is  more  applicable  to  the  driving, 
carriage,  and  saddle  horses,  but  not  at  all  inapplicable  to 
horses  of  all  work,  when  a  day  is  allowed  them  in  the 
stable. 

The  recommendations  in  this  chapter  are  more  particu- 
larly designed  for  the  benefit  of  city  horses,  but  we  do  not 
know  of  any  class  of  horsemen  or  owners,  if  it  be  not,  first, 
the  farmer,  and  second,  some  of  the  livery  stablemen  of 
Philadelphia,  and  other  large  cities  and  towns,  that  can  be 
benefited  so  much  by  following  our  instructions,  at  least  so 
far  as  cleanline^5s  and  taste  are  concerned ;  for  it  is  not  an 
unusual  habit  for  farmers  to  have  their  horses  standing  in 
filth  and  dirt  up  to  their  knees  months  at  a  time — a  stereo- 
typed habit,  which  sliould  be  abandoned  as  not  fit  for  the 
healthful  treatment  even  of  the  pig.  This  carelessness  in 
the  stable  of  the  farmer  cannot  be  accounted  for  upon  any 
other  hypothesis  than  the  force  of  habit,  a  lazy  disposition, 
and  complete  ignorance  of  the  laws  that  govern  animal  life 
and  the  nature  of  the  horse.  Besides,  it  shows  the  want 
of  capacity  to  manage  the  ordinary  afiairs  which  pertain  to 
the  everyday  duty  of  the  farm  and  the  stable.  Farmers 
and  others  who  allow  this  state  of  affairs  in  the  stable,  must 
be  taught  to  expect  in  the  spring  epizootic  disease  of  some 
kind — lung  fever,   typhoid   influenza,  sore   eyes,   swelled 


118  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

legs,  scratches,  thrushy  feet,  ic,  &c. — as  the  result  of  such 
a  pernicious  system. 

The  cleansing  of  the  stable  should  in  every  case  be 
among  the  first  acts  of  each  and  every  morning,  and  where 
good  arrangements  are  made,  no  loss  of  time  or  inconveni- 
ence will  be  experienced  by  so  necessary  an  arrangement. 
Other  little  niceties  that  are  tasteful  and  timely  in  the 
private  stable  of  the  merchant-prince  may  not  be  enforced 
in  the  stable  of  the  agriculturist  or  in  the  ordinary  livery 
stable  ;  but  cleanliness  and  good  ventilation  are  necessary 
in  every  stable,  and  in  the  country,  where  there  is  space 
enough,  the  cleanings  from  the  stable  should  be  removed 
some  distance  from  the  doors  and  windows,  by  means  of  a 
wheelbarrow.  Any  person  who  values  the  life  and  good 
health  of  his  horse,  should  absolutely  refuse  to  stable  where 
the  manure  is  deposited  in  the  building  with  horses,  har- 
ness, and  carriages,  as  seen  in  many  livery  establishments. 
The  ammonia  evolved  in  the  closed  stable  during  the  night 
is  injurious  enough  to  the  health  of  horses  and  the  paint  of 
carriages,  without  their  being  subjected  night  and  day  to 
this  noisome  odor.  •  The  injurious  efi"ects  of  ammonia  from 
stable  manure  may  be  correctly  judged  of  by  a  visit  to 
some  lead-paint  manufactory ;  its  action  speaks  louder  to  the 
understanding  of  man  than  mere  words.  In  closing  this 
not-over-nice  subject,  we  hope  the  farmers  and  some  others 
will  learn  that  cleanliness  in  the  stable  is  of  high  consi- 
deration, independently  of  its  superior  economy. 

Exercise,  in  the  phrase  of  the  stable,  is  intended  as  a 


EXERCISE.  119 

substitute  for  work  to  horses  that  are  not  regularly 
employed,  and  is  often  a  very  convenient  plan  by  which 
the  groom  "  shows  off"  to  his  brothers  of  like  occupation, 
the  condition  of  his  horses,  the  easy  time  and  place  he  has, 
as  evinced  by  the  apparent,  if  not,  real  necessity  of  exer- 
cising the  idle  horses.  To  the  sober  and  industrious  groom 
or  coachman,  who  avoids  associates  at  the  tavern,  the  hour 
of  exercise  is  time  spent  with  much  pleasure  and  to  many 
with  profit,  by  the  comparison  of  the  condition  of  other 
horses  with  those  of  which  he  has  the  care.  Further,  it 
is  often  a  pleasure  to  the  owners  to  know  and  see  his  horses 
at  exercise,  looking  as  well  if  not  better  than  others. 

The  increasing  wealth  and  prosperity  of  many  of  our  citi- 
zens, entitle  them  to  articles  contributing  to  ease  and 
luxury,  some  of  which  cannot  be  always  in  use,  but  it  is 
necessary  they  should  be  kept  in  a  condition  that  fits  them 
for  service  when  required;  hence  the  introduction  into  the 
stable  of  the  word  exercise.  There  are  several  ways  taken 
to  exercise  horses,  the  most  common  being  with  the  sad- 
dle— horseback — and  if  there  be  a  pair,  one  is  led  by  the 
side  of  the  other.  The  "  led"  horse,  for  safety  to  himself, 
should  have  a  bridle  on.  and  a  surcingle  or  belly-band 
around  the  body,  to  which  is  attached  an  ordinary  bearing 
rein,  but  not  too  tight,  sufficient  to  employ  the  animal's 
attention  from  other  horses  or  objects,  so  that  there  will  be 
no  rearing  up,  kicking  or  being  kicked  or  sprained,  as 
would  sometimes  be  the  case  if  left  without  some  other 
restraint  than  the  simple  halter  and  "  shank"  by  which 
11 


120  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

he  is  being  led,  by  a  person  on  the  back  of  another  horse. 
From  want  of  sufficient  work,  with  good  feeding,  feeling 
spirited,  he  is  full  of  fun  or  play,  that  sometimes  ends 
injuriouslj\ 

Our  experience  has  taught  that  with  high-conditioned 
horses,  no  plan  for  their  exercise  is  so  effectual  and  safe 
as  when  performed  in  the  manner  of  their  usual  work, 
which  can  only  be  objected  to  on  account  of  the  wear  and 
tear  of  the  harness  and  carriage,  together  with  the  extra 
labor  of  the  grooms  in  washing  and  cleaning.  The  former 
objection  can,  in  a  measure  be  obviated  by  using  an  inferior 
carriage  with  coarse,  but  strong  harness,  and  the  latter  by 
less  labor  being  necessary  to  keep  such  articles  in  order 
than  those  of  greater  value.  In  some  parts  of  Europe  the 
^'  break"  or  van  is  used  for  such  a  purpose.  For  saddle 
horses,  the  saddle  and  bridle  should  only  be  used,  but  may 
be  of  less  value  than  those  required  for  regular  work. 
In  England  especially,  it  is  the  custom  in  frosty  weather 
and  where  there  are  slippery  roads  or  streets,  to  give  doses 
of  physic  (a  purge),  as  a  substitute  for  work  or  exercise. 
We  mention  this,  not  for  its  adoption,  but  that  it  should 
be  avoided  under  all  circumstances. 

Old  horses  require  but  little  exercise,  although  capable, 
without  fatigue  or  injury  to  themselves,  of  doing  a  greater 
amount  of  work  than  younger  ones.  The  young  animal 
is  not  capable  of  enduring  much  work  without  fatigue  and 
injury,  but  requires  to  be  nut  of  the  stable  daily,  even 
though  not  much  exercised.     Young  horses  are  stabled  too 


EXERCISE.  121 

much  for  their  health,  yet  are  incapable  of  standing  much 
work  or  exercise  without  giving  rise  to  splints,  sprains,  &c. 
When  exercise  is  necessary  for  the  young  horse  it  should 
be  confined  to  a  walk,  and  in  double  the  time  that  is  allowed 
to  the  older  animal.  It  is  the  want  of  this  physiological 
knowledge  on  the  part  of  those  who  profess  to  be  adepts  in 
the  art  (I  had  almost  said  science)  of  training  horses  for 
the  race  course  and  turf,  that  destroys  so  many  excellent 
and  promising  young  horses,  when  placed  under  their 
charge.  Indeed,  so  much  is  this  the  case,  that  it  is  but 
few  that  stand  the  unjust  and  cruel  treatment  in  the  daily 
exercise  that  is  exacted  from  them.  While,  if  a  year  or 
two  older,  or  at  least  with  a  more  judicious  system  in  force, 
many  that  are  injured,  would  be  more  likely  to  show  them- 
selves animals  of  speed  and  value,  instead  of  worn  out, 
crippled,  broken  in  spirit,  diseased  in  the  bones  of  the 
joints,  with  spavin,  ringbone,  and  other  osseous  deposits, 
before  the  animal  had  begun  its  career  of  usefulness  and 
profit. 

The  subject  of  training  we  will  leave  where  it  is,  m  the 
hands  of  those,  who  through  ignorance  of  the  animal  and 
its  power  of  endurance  under  adverse  circumstances,  have 
done  more  to  hinder  and  close  the  door  to  a  more  perfect 
system  of  breeding  horses,  than  even  the  present  system 
of  racing.  We  hope  a  good  and  beneficent  government 
will  speedily  recognise  the  evil  and  apply  the  remedy. 

Blanketing  horses  is  a  matter  of  much  importance,  for 
upon  a  proper  use  of  the  blanket  its  principal  value  de- 


122  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

pends,  though  neither  the  value  of  the  blanket  nor  the 
principle  upon  which  they  act  is  fully  understood  by  the 
best  of  grooms  or  horsemen,  outside  of  the  fact  that  blan- 
kets will  keep  the  horse  warm. 

Blankets  are  a  necessary  article  of  stable  appliance,  at 
least  where  a  high  condition  of  horse  is  necessary.  With- 
out a  certain  degree  of  heat  in  cold  weather,  horses  could 
not  be  easily  kept  in  flesh  and  condition.  This  heat  is  in 
part  supplied  by  the  application  of  blankets  to  the  body 
and  in  part  from  the  feed.  The  colder  the  animal  is  kept 
the  greater  the  amount  of  feed  required  to  supply  caloric. 
The  blanket  not  only  prevents  the  evaporation  of  heat  from 
the  body  of  the  horse,  but  at  the  same  time  forms  a  barrier 
between  the  pores  of  the  skin  of  the  animal  and  the  cold 
air.  Blanketing  should  be  just  sufficiently  heavy  or  light 
to  insure  comfort^  by  allowing  insensible  transpiration ^  but 
not  so  heavy  as  to  produce  sweating  or  sensible  transpira- 
tion. It  should  never  interfere  with  a  free  exhalation  from 
"the  surface  of  the  skin,  which  is  eminently  necessary  to 
health. 

Blankets  of  coarse  wool  should  only  be  used,  and  not  be 
lined  with  anything  other  than  woollen  material,  if  lined  at 
all.  To  blanket  with  water  proof  or  rubber  cloth  while  the 
horse  is  in  the  stable,  without  harness  or  saddle  on  his 
back  to  elevate  the  covering  from  immediate  contact  with 
the  skin,  would  be  injurious,  because  it  would  in  great 
measure  prevent  the  natural  transpiration.  The  same 
objection  may  be  applied  to  the   buffalo   and  other  robes 


HOW  TO  PREVENT  HORSES  FROM  TEARING  THEIR  CLOTHING. 


11 


(123) 


BLANKETING.  125 

being  used  as  blankets  in  the  stable ;  though  they  are 
admissible  as  coverings  to  throw  over  the  back  of  a  heated 
horse  on  a  cold  day,  whilst  he  is  standing  out  of  doors  or  in 
an  open  shed,  with  the  saddle  or  harness  on,  which  allows 
of  sufficient,  but  not  over,  transpiration  to  take  place.  It 
will  be  observed  that  it  is  not  always  the  heaviest  blanket 
that  is  the  warmest,  but  that  which  is  fine  and  soft,  made 
of  wool  and  not  too  porous,  allowing  some  little  for  weight 
also.  The  use  of  rubber  coverings  on  carriage  and  some 
other  horses  on  wet  days  would  be  a  positive  injury  to  the 
health  were  they  worn  close  to  the  skin ;  but  this  is  obvi- 
ated by  their  being  fixed  outside  of  the  harness,  insuring 
much  protection  and  good,  with  no  bad  result.  The  great 
object  of  the  blanket  is  to  give  warmth  and  comfort,  and 
its  use  should  not  be  carried  further,  for  it  will  then  be 
at  the  expense  of  the  constitution,  with  a  great  liability 
to  disease. 

The  soft  wool  blanket  should  always  be  placed  next  to 
the  skin  of  a  horse  that  comes  to  the  stable  wet,  with  rain 
or  sweat,  as  it  readily  absorbs  the  moisture,  to  the  great 
comfort  of  the  horse.  Thick  felt  and  kersey  or  cloth 
blankets  are  not  fit  for  this  purpose,  besides  the  latter  is 
too  costly,  and  should  be  used  only  as  day  blankets,  and 
when  at  slow  exercise.  The  softer  and  less  costly  arc 
for  sweat  and  night  blankets.  Quarter-cords  should  be 
fixed  to  the  blanket  when  exercising,  to  prevent  their 
being  turned  up  from  behind  by  the  wind,  but  blankets  for 
mares   when    in   the    stable    should    have   none,   as   they 


126  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

interfere  with  uriuating,  and  cause  the  animal  to  wet  her 
legs. 

Bandages  are  familiar  to  most  stablemen,  but.  like  the 
blanket,  are  not  so  well  understood,  though  applied  for 
different  purposes  and  in  different  conditions  and  forms. 
Thus  we  have  the  dry,  wet  woollen,  linen,  chamois  leather, 
straw,  and  hay-rope  bandages,  all  of  which  at  times  are  in 
use,  and,  no  doubt,  are  of  considerable  importance,  when 
intelligently  used  and  applied  to  the  legs  of  the  horse. 
But  when  inconsiderately  used  they  are  productive  of 
harm,  as,  for  instance,  the  substitution  of  the  wet  when  the 
dry  is  required,  and  vice  versa. 

Dry  bandages,  when  used  for  the  purpose  of  absorbing 
moisture  from  the  legs,  should  be  of  soft  woollen,  which, 
when  applied  to  the  legs  that  are  w'et  from  washing  or 
from  the  roads,  will  dry  them  quicker  than  by  almost  any 
other  means ;  at  the  same  time,  the  limbs  are  kept  warm 
and  comfortable,  leaving  them  clean,  smooth,  and  glossy. 
By  their  application  immediately  after  the  legs  are  washed, 
or  when  the  horse  returns  to  the  stable  on  a  wet  and  cold 
day,  no  bad  consequences  need  be  apprehended. 

For  coarse  or  farm  horses,  or  where  economy  is  to  be 
considered,  the  hay  or  soft-straw  rope,  loosely  wound  round 
the  wet  or  cold  legs,  is  of  great  benefit,  preventing  scalding 
of  the  heels  and  consequent  scratches. 

When  it  is  intended  to  support  the  tired  limb,  or  make 
pressure  to  promote  absorption  of  effused  fluids  from  the 
legs,  and  consequent  swelling,  the  bandage  may  be  advan- 
tageously made  of  linen  and  applied  dry. 


BANDAGES.  127 

Wet  bandages  are  usually  made  of  woollen,  and  are 
used  when  the  legs  are  hot,  tender,  or  sore,  and  for  the 
purpose  of  applying  lotions  and  constant  fomentations.  An 
excellent  method  is  the  application  of  a  bandage  made  of 
chamois  or  wash  leather,  wet  with  a  lotion  made  of  one 
drachm  each  of  acetate  and  sulphate  of  zinc  dissolved  in  a 
pint  of  rain  water.  To  gain  the  full  advantage  from  wet 
bandages,  one  of  dry  linen  should  be  wound  round  and  over 
the  wet  one,  to  prevent  evaporation ;  and  we  may  renew 
the  moisture  by  occasionally  pouring  water  or  other  fluid 
on  the  leg,  between  it  and  the  bandage,  taking  care  to  wet 
the  outside  bandage  as  little  as  possible.  Wet  bandages 
should  not  be  continued  above  twelve  hours  at  a  time,  after 
which  they  should  be  removed  and  the  part  exposed  to  the 
air,  to  prevent  scalding  and  falling  off  of  the  hair.  If  too 
long  continued,  the  hoofs  will  become  so  soft  that  they  will 
not  be  able  to  bear  much  weight  wpon  them,  especially 
when  on  stony  roads  or  cobble-paved  streets. 

Bandages  should  be  from  two  to  three  yards  in  length, 
and  the  breadth  about  six  to  eight  inches,  tapering  to  the 
other  end  to  about  three  inches,  and  to  this  tape  for  tying 
them  should  be  affixed.  In  well  furnished  stables,  each 
horse  should  have  his  full  set  of  bandages.  As  the  appli- 
cation of  bandages  is  quite  an  art,  the  greatest  care 
should  be  exercised  in  applying  them ;  first,  to  prevent 
wrinkling  the  hair,  and  second,  to  insure  their  staying  in 
place  when  put  on  the  leg.  This  latter  consideration  is 
important,  as  no  horse  of  value  should  be  placed  in  a  rail- 


128  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

road  car,  or  on  a  steamboat  for  conveyance  to  any  place, 
without  warm  bandages  on  every  leg.  Let  the  strings 
always  be  tied  either  on  the  in  or  outside  and  middle  of 
the  leg,  or  equi-distant  between  the  knee  and  pastern  joint, 
where  they  will  not  interfere  with  the  horse's  movements. 
Bandages  are  only  applied  on  the  fore  legs  from  the  knee 
to  the  pastern,  and  on  the  hind  legs  from  hock  to  pastern. 
Tying  horses  in  the  stable  with  good  judgment  and 
care,  is  perhaps  the  best  preventive  of  accidents  to  them, 
and  its  neglect  is  certainly  one  of  the  most  prolific  causes 
of  injuries  during  the  night,  when  no  person  is  near  tc 
render  assistance  in  the  struggles  of  entanglement  with 
the  halter  improperly  fastened  to  the  manger  and  fixed 
upon  the  head  of  the  horse.  In  an  extensive  veterinary 
practice  of  long  duration  in  Philadelphia,  many,  very  many 
cases  of  injury  to  valuable  horses  have  we  seen,  which 
were  classed  by  the  stableman,  under  the  very  convenient 
covering  called  accident,  and  brought  about  by  the  indiffer- 
ent, careless,  and  unsafe  way  in  which  the  animals  had  been 
tied  in  their  stalls.  Thus,  we  have  cut  heel  of  the  hind 
foot,  resembling  scratches,  by  the  halter  rubbing  and  cut- 
ting into  the  flesh — wry-neck,  from  the  animal  being  cast 
in  the  stall,  by  the  head  being  held  during,  perhaps  the 
most  of  the  night,  in  a  bent  position — getting  loose  by  slip- 
ping the  head  halter  or  untying  the  halter's  shank  and 
gorging  from  the  corn-bin  and  finally  dying  of  colic;  or  if 
no  feed  be  within  reach,  the  other  tied  horses  are  at  the 
mercy  of  the  loose  one   and  defend  themselves  by  kicking 


TYING .  129 

and  bitin^i;  till  mornliici;  arrives,  "when  a  broken  les;  or  a 
wounded  and  sick  horse  is  seen — as  usual,  to  be  placed  to 
the  account  of  accident. 

The  above-named  results,  are  but  a  few  that  can  be 
classed  amongst  avoidable  or  preventable  injuries,  which, 
by  a  judicious  and  careful  system  of  tying  would  be  almost 
impossible,  at  least  in  the  stable.  The  head  stall  or  leather 
portion  should  neither  be  too  large  nor  too  small  for  the 
head  to  which  it  is  to  be  fitted,  and  when  it  is  on,  the 
crown  strap  should  also  be  neither  too  long  nor  too  short, 
and  the  loose  end  should  always  be  secured  in  its  keeper; 
this  to  many  persons  seems  a  small  thing,  and  conse- 
quently a  very  important  matter  is  thus  neglected.  The 
head  portion  of  the  halter  or  stall-collar  being  of  a  proper 
fit  and  well  secured,  attention  to  the  tying  of  the  shank, 
whether  of  leather,  rope,  or  chain,  is  of  the  utmost  import- 
ance, because  more  injury  is  caused  by  improper  tying  of 
this,  than  ever  occurred  from  the  mere  getting  loose,  which 
in  itself  is  often  of  little  account,  as  the  horse  may  be  a 
quiet  one,  and  will  neither  disturb  his  mates  nor  the  corn- 
bin.  But  if  the  leg  gets  over  the  shank  of  the  halter,  the 
head  is  held  to  the  fl.oor,  the  animal  becomes  almost  frantic 
in  his  efforts  to  free  himself,  dances  about,  and  finally  casts 
himself  in  the  stall — the  leg  is  badly  bruised,  it  may  be 
broken,  and  the  Jin  ale  is  a  dead  horse.  The  only  safe  plan 
of  fastening  the  shank  of  a  halter  from  the  head  to  the 
manger,  is  to  run  the  strap  or  shank  through  an  iron  ring, 
secured  to  the  centre  of  the  manger  or  the  top  rail  by  a 


130  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

staple,  thus  allowing  an  equal  distance  to  each  side  of  the 
stall.  The  ring  should  be  large  enough  to  admit  a  free 
irovement  of  the  shank  through  it.  No  hole  cut  through 
the  boards  of  the  front  of  the  manger  -will  be  safe.  After 
the  shank  is  put  through  this  loose  ring,  it  should  be  fas- 
tened to  a  wooden  ball  or  block,  without  square  corners  or 
sharp  points  of  larger  size  than  will  be  admitted  through 
the  ring,  and  weighing  about  half  a  pound,  with  a  one  inch 
hole  through  its  centre.  Thus,  this  weight  attached  to  the 
end  of  the  halter,  acts  as  a  sink  to  it,  and  allows  no  slack, 
therefore  the  leg  cannot  get  over  it.  The  length  of  halter 
shank  to  be  allowed  may  be  measured  by  the  height  of  the 
manger  from  the  floor,  or  distance  the  ball  will  carry  the 
loose  or  slack  halter,  and  let  no  accumulation  of  bedding, 
litter  or  straw,  lie  immediately  under  the  front  of  the  man- 
ger to  prevent  the  ball  sinking  clearly  to  the  floor.  The 
above  plan  for  tying  horses  in  the  stable  is  the  only  way 
to  avoid  accidents,  and  no  other  contrivance,  short  of  the 
loose-box,  should  ever  be  substituted  for  the  sink-ball. 

Care  of  the  feet  of  the  horse  is  suggested  by  our 
large  experience,  coupled  with  the  truism,  "  no  foot  no 
horse," — and  further,  a  good  healthy-bodied  horse  will  out- 
wear two  sets  of  legs,  and  something  above  that  number  in 
hoofs  and  feet.  We  will  therefore  endeavor  as  best  we 
can,  to  indicate  a  plan,  which  when  followed  will  give 
such  good  results,  by  a  freedom  from  disease  short  of  acci- 
dent, that  will  shake  the  faith  of  many  who  believe  in  the 
above  aphorism.     To  attain  so  desirable  a  condition,  the 


CAKE    OF    THE    FEET.  131 

hoofs  of  a  horse  should  be  kept  in  as  natural  a  condition 
as  possible,  and  this  can  only  be  accomplished  in  the 
trained  or  domesticated  horse  by  artificial  means. 

Deterioration  of  the  foot  of  the  horse,  is  inseparable  from 
his  domestication  and  the  purposes  for  which  he  is  em- 
ployed, unless  artificial  applications  are  used,  and  chief 
amongst  these  are  moiature  and  refrigerants — cooling  appli- 
anc-es.  The  want  of  moisture  in  the  foot  of  a  horse  causes 
hardness,  which  again  produces  want  of  elasticity,  which 
is  soon  followed  by  contraction  or  shrinking  of  the  posterior 
quarters  of  the  hoof,  which  gives  rise  to  absorption  of  the 
sensitive  structures  within  the  hoof,  ending  in  ulceration 
of  the  bones,  laming  the  horse  for  life. 

The  above  is  only  one  of  the  terminations  of  dry-hard 
hoofs.  Another  is  where  hritthness  follows  dryness,  giv- 
ing rise  to  sand-cracks  or  quarter-cracks,  chipping,  or 
spelking  off  of  portions  from  the  wall  of  the  hoof,  so  that 
in  many  such  cases  a  nail-hold  cannot  be  found  to  affix  a 
shoe,  and  for  such  condition  the  shoer  is  not  unfrequently 
made  an  unwilling  sponsor.  Any  contrivance  then  capable 
of  counteracting  and  preventing  dryness,  hardness,  and 
brittleness,  is  to  be  sought  for  and  applied,  and  every  cause 
that  leads  or  gives  rise  to  these  conditions,  should  as  far 
as  possible  be  avoided.  The  former  conditions  are  avoided 
by  stuffing  the  soles  with  flax  seed  meal,  made  into  a  poul- 
tice and  laid  in  the  space  on  the  sole,  not  covered  by  the 
web  of  the  shoe.  This  should  be  applied  at  night,  twice  a 
week  in  winter,  when  the  roads  and  streets  are  wet,  and 
12 


132  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

three  to  four  times  in  summer  when  the  sun  is  hot  and  the 
streets  are  dry.  If  the  stuffing  is  not  sufficient  to  supply 
moisture,  it  should  be  assisted  by  fever  pads,  or  crescent 
shaped  folds  of  woollen  cloths,  saturated  with  cold  water, 
and  laid  over  the  hoofs  and  tied  behind  the  foot,  with  wor- 
sted strings,  to  prevent  marks  or  shaving  off  of  the  hair. 
The  pads  or  cloths,  like  the  stuffing,  may  be  applied  as 
often  as  may  be  necessary  to  keep  the  hoofs  cool  and  moisf, 
taking  care,  however,  not  to  have  the  hoofs  too  soft,  or  the 
horse  will  not  step  as  firm  upon  his  feet  as  he  would  natu- 
rally do. 

Those  causes  which  give  rise  to  dryness.  &c.,  &c.,  of  the 
hoofs  should  be  carefully  avoided.  Thus,  the  horse-shoer 
should  not  be  allowed  to  apply  a  shoe  to  the  foot,  either  to 
make  its  bearing,  or  fix  a  shoe  even  slightly  warm,  but  it 
must  be  positively  cold  to  the  foot.  Another  cause  of  dry- 
ness, &c.,  may  be  avoided,  in  a  great  measure,  by  standing 
and  driving  horses  in  the  shade,  and  not  allowing  the  sun's 
rays  to  reflect  upon  them;  and  finally,  by  driving  over 
roads  with  the  softest  surface  consistent  with  the  weight 
of  the  load  to  which  the  animal  is  attached. 

To  aid  in  this  matter,  a  few  words  to  the  shoer  seem  to 
be  necessary.  Treat  the  hoofs  of  horses  by  no  fixed  rule, 
as  all  hoofs  are  not  alike  in  size,  solidity,  firmness,  and 
depth,  although  they  ail  belong  to  horses  of  the  same 
work.  Thus,  some  hoofs  will  require  considerable  portions 
of  horn  to  be  taken  from  them  at  each  monthly  shoeing, 
while  others  again  cannot  afford  to  be  so  treated ;  and  hence 


A  FOOT  PROPERLY  PREPARED  FOR  THE  SHOE. 
Ms 


A.  The  heel  of  the  crust.  E  E.  The  angles  hetween  the  heels  and 

B.  The  toe.  liars,  where  corns  appear. 
C  C.  The  qiiarters  of  the  crust  or  wall.  F  F.  The  concave  surface. 

D  D.  The  bars  as  they  should  be  left  G  G.  The  bulbous  heels, 

with  the  fro2;  between  them.  II.  The  cleft. 


(133) 


TREATMENT    AFTER    AVORK.  135 

the  necessity  for  good  judgment  on  tlie  part  of  a  horse- 
shoer  to  treat  each  hoof  as  its  conformation  suggests. 

Treatment  after  work  forms  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant considerations  of  stable  economy,  and  upon  the 
adoption  of  a  good,  bad,  or  inconsiderate  usage  depend  the 
heakh  and  appearance  of  the  horse.  This  is  the  period 
when  coughs,  colds,  lung  diseases,  and  many  other  ills  to 
which  horses  are  subject,  are  contracted,  and  can  only  be 
avoided  by  a  system  founded  on  natural  laws.  Thus,  the 
season  of  the  year,  the  heat  and  fatigue  of  the  horse,  will 
have  to  be  considered,  as  well  as  the  location  of  the  stable, 
and  its  ventilation,  the  amount  of  help  that  can  at  once  be 
made  available  when  warm  horses  arrive  at  the  stable,  and 
whether  the  animals  be  clipped  or  have  long  and  thick 
coats  of  hair. 

For  each  variation  from  the  above  conditions,  a  cor- 
responding change  or  adaptability  in  the  treatment  and 
care  will  have  to  be  provided.  Thus  a  horse  that  is  clipped 
will  perform  a  greater  journey  without  sweating  than  one 
with  a  winter  and  uncut  coat  of  hair  upon  him.  The 
clipped  horse,  then,  is  not  to  be  judged  of  by  whether  he 
is  sweating,  but  by  the  length  of  the  journey  and  the  time 
allowed  or  consumed  in  it — and  his  treatment  should  be 
accordingly;  for  he  is  as  liable  to  cold,  &c.,  as  the  animal 
with  a  heavier  coat,  because  the  heart  of  all  animals  after 
fatigue  will  beat  very  slow,  and  hence  the  necessity  for  care 
in  properly  covering  and  giving  small  mouthfuls  of  water  -, 
for  by  the  neglect  of  covering,  to  assist  as  a  stimulus  to  the 
12* 


136  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

heart  and  circulation,  ^nd  bj  giving  large  draughts  of  cold 
water  the  circulation  will  be  impeded,  and  lung  disease 
may  be  the  result.  To  prevent  this,  keep  such  horses,  at 
least  in  winter,  out  of  a  draught — though  this  may  be 
allowed  in  some  very  warm  days  in  summer — and  cover  them 
comfortably  with  woollen  blankets  (see  Blanheting')  till  the 
hair  is  dry ;  for  in  winter  in  this  climate  no  attempt  should 
be  made  to  rub  the  coat  drj^,  as  the  time  thus  required 
would  chill  the  horse.  Let  the  heated  and  tired  horse, 
whether  he  be  clipped  or  not,  be  kept  warm  till  the  time 
of  starting  further  on  the  journey,  or  until  the  next  morn- 
ing.    This  is  safe,  and  can  do  no  harm. 

It  is  true,  many  persons  do  not  like  to  know  of  their 
horse  standing  all  night  with  a  wet  coat  of  hair;  but  how 
is  this  to  be  got  over,  without  exposing  the  animal  to  dis- 
ease, in  an  attempt  to  have  the  hair  rubbed  dry  ?  The  only 
alternative  is  to  have  the  hair  straightened  with  a  brush 
after  using  the  scraper,  and  if  wet  cover  up  till  morning, 
when  the  hair  will  be  dry,  and  can  then  be  cleansed.  Do 
not  wash  the  feet  or  legs  in  winter,  unless  warm  woollen  ban- 
dages are  immediately  applied  to  them.     (See  Bandages.') 

In  summer,  cold  water  applied  even  to  the  whole  body, 
but  not  immediately  after  work,  may  occasionally  be 
allowed.  A  mouthful  of  cold  water  at  all  seasons  of  the 
year  should  be  given,  even  before  the  horse  is  cooled. 
There  is  more  danger  in  giving  cold  water  to  a  cold  horse 
than  to  a  icarm  one.  If  too  much  cold  water  is  given  to 
horses  when  warm,  the  caloric  or  heat  of  the  body  is  sud- 


TREATMENT  AFTER  WORK BEDDING.     137 

denly  expended,  aud  then  follows  a  congestive  chill. 
Hence  the  necessity  of  giving  a  warm  horse  a  small  quan- 
tity at  a  time,  till  he  wants  no  more.  Horses  after  a 
journey  should  not  be  allowed  feed  in  small  bulk,  like  oats 
or  corn,  till  the  heart  and  lungs  have  been  restored  more 
nearly  to  their  quiet  state ;  a  little  hay  may  be  given  with 
advantage,  because  it  will  prepare  the  empty  stomach  tc 
receive  more  solid  food  without  giving  rise  to  colic  or  acute 
indigestion.  The  whole  art  of  treatment  after  work  con- 
sists in  making  the  horse  comfortable,  without  causing 
injury.  A  considerate  horseman,  on  returning,  will  drive 
slowly  as  he  nears  home,  thus  allowing  the  horse  gradually 
to  cool  off,  obviating  all  injury  from  cold  water  or  draughts 
of  cold  air  about  the  stable. 

Yf  hat  are  we  to  say,  however,  to  the  inconsiderate  driver, 
who  stables  at  "■  livery,'^  where  all  horses  return  about  the 
same  time,  and  all  cannot  be  waited  upon  at  once  ?  (See 
Livery  Stahles.') 

Bedding  for  the  stable  is  a  matter  of  considerable 
importance,  not  only  as  to  its  usefulness,  but  its  expense, 
for  of  late  years,  straw  sold  for  this  purpose  seems  con- 
stantly to  increase  in  price,  so  much  so  that  we  consider 
the  straw  account  the  most  important  item  in  the  expenses 
of  the  city  stable,  and  think  that  a  cheaper  substitute  is 
imperiously  called  for. 

Rye-straw,  which  forms  the  bedding  of  most  of  our 
city  or  private  stables,  is  perhaps  not  the  best  nor  the 
cheapest  material  that  could  be  used,  because  its  extreme 


138  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

leDgtli  does  not  fit  it  for  a  good  litter  for  horses,  as  but  one- 
half  of  its  length  is  soiled,  and  the  clean  portion  has  also 
to  be  thrown  to  the  dung-pit,  making  a  costly  manure.  Its 
price  almost  forbids  its  use  for  such  purposes. 

Saw-dust  makes  a  good  bed  for  horses,  and  is  in  use  in 
many  stables,  and  appears  to  give  satisfaction. 

Bar-sand  makes  a  very  good  bed  for  horses,  and  is  in 
use  in  some  parts  of  the  world. 

Forest  Leaves  are  an  excellent  bed,  when  free  from 
wood  and  pieces  of  tree  branches. 

Oat-straw  is  perhaps,  considering  all  things,  the  best 
of  beds,  and  is  used  in  nearly  all  countries,  but  in  our  own 
it  is  almost  unknown. 

Salt  Marsh  and  Meadow  or  Natural  Grass  makes 
a  very  good  solid  bed;  but  is  so  much  sought  after  for 
packing  material  that  little  is  used  in  the  stable. 

Tan  Bark  is  in  use  in  some  parts  of  the  country,  but 
on  account  of  its  stringency,  is  injurious  to  the  horses*  feet. 

Stable  vices  among  well-trained  horses  are  not  many, 
nor  are  they  under  all  circumstances  very  aggravating-; 
some  horses  w^ith  a  stranger  or  new  groom,  in  the  strife  for 
the  mastery,  will  for  a  time  evince  a  determination  to  do 
mischief;  but  with  the  old,  or  on  a  better  acquaintance 
with  the  new  man,  will  settle  down  to  good  behavior. 
This  peculiarity  of  horses,  with  destructive  impulse,  is  con- 
fined to  biting,  kicking,  &c. ;  but  tearing  the  cloths  off  the 
back,  &c.,  cannot  be  classed  as  above. 

Kicking  in  the  stable  at  night  is  difficult  to  remedy, 


KICKING — BITING — SHYING.  139 

because  it  is  often  acquired  by  habit.  It  can  hardly  be 
classed  as  a  vice,  as  it  is  generally  in  play,  although  asso- 
ciated with  danger  and  destruction  to  both  the  kicker  and 
the  next  stall  neighbor,  and  often  results  in  a  broken  or 
bruised  leg.  The  remedy  consists  in  the  removal  of  exciting 
causes,  such  as  other  playful  or  idle  horses,  from  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  kicker.  Allow  a  loose-box  or  plenty  of  room, 
and-  nothing  to  kick  at,  regular  and  plenty  of  day  work, 
but  do  not  stint  the  feed  as  is  often  done  in  such  cases. 

Biting  is  much  like  kicking  in  its  cause  and  effects 
Apply  a  wire  net  muzzle,  and  enforce  obedience  by  always 
holding  in  the  left  hand  a  short  stick,  so  that  the  animal 
can  see  it.  This  is  a  necessary  precaution,  because  the 
horse  is  quick  to  discover  its  ab&ence  and  will  act  accord- 
ingly ;  it  is  not  necessary  to  use  it,  however.  We  have 
known  instances  where  an  extra  glass  of  whisRey  induced 
boldness  and  indifference  on  the  part  of  the  groom,  asso- 
ciated perhaps  with  neglect  of  the  usual  stick  in  hand,  has 
caused  severe  injury. 

Shying  in  the  stable,  as  on  the  road,  is  the  result  of 
incipient  disease  of  the  eyes — a  distorted  vision — seeing 
things  in  a  hideous  form — and  in  the  stable  is  manifested 
very  commonly  at  the  sieve  or  vessel  in  which  the  feed  is 
carried  to  the  manger  or  trough,  causing  the  animal  to  shy, 
not  ahyays  from  the  object,  but  towards  it,  as  if  to  crush  it 
on  the  spot,  and  if  the  groom  is  not  active  in  striking  the 
animal  off  from  him,  he  may  be  crushed  against  the  stall's 
partition.     Care  and  attention  will  be  required  on  the  part 


140  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

of  the  groom  till  disease  of  the  eye  destroys  the  eyesight 
altogether;  or  the  horse  may  be  removed  into  a  wide  place, 
where  accidents  of  this  character  cannot  occur. 

Rolling  in  the  stall  would  not  be  classed  as  a  vice,  if  it 
were  not  that  the  animal  so  addicted  may  get  cast^  or  fall  on 
his  back,  and  not  be  able  to  rise  till  assisted  in  the  morn- 
ing. The  results  of  casting  in  the  stall,  with  the  violent 
and  determined  struggles  to  get  up  again,  often  results  in 
broken  legs-,  injuries,  and  death  before  assistance  arrives. 
To  remedy  this  habit,  or  at  least  prevent  its  consequences, 
provide  a  loose-box,  a  wide  stall,  or  a  very  narrow  one,  and 
tie  the  head  just  so  that  the  shoulder  can  rest  on  the  floor, 
but  not  allow  the  head  and  neck  to  do  so. 

The  horse  that  is  addicted  to  rolling  is  generally  a  good 
and  healthy  horse,  and  it  is  a  pity  to  deprive  him  of  the 
luxury  by  Sny  contrivance,  if  it  be  not  to  increase  his 
facilities  without  danger  to  himself  by  giving  more  space. 

Cribbing  is  familiar  to  all  stablemen,  and  is  a  habit 
confined  mostly  to  the  stable ;  it  is  caused  by  indigestion 
and  idleness,  giving  time  for  one  horse  to  teach  it  to 
another.  It  consists  in  horses  filling  the  stomach  with  air, 
which  in  a  manner  satisfies  the  appetite  to  the  almost 
exclusion  of  solid  food.* 

Prevention  of  crib-biting  is  a  difficult  matter,  so  much 
so  that  we  have  seen  a  horse,  deprived  of  all  fixtures  to 


*  See    Diseases    in   the   "American   Stable,    Field,  and  Farm- 
Yard."     Philadelphia:   Porter  &  Coates. 


TEARING    THE    BLANKETS.  141 

which  his  mouth  could  touch,  still  perform  the  act,  having 
recourse  to  the  thigh  of  his  own  fore  leg  upon  which  to 
press  the  mouth. 

Breaking  loose  is  a  vice  easily  cured,  where  space  is 
no  object,  by  allowing  no  halter  and  confining  the  animal 
in  a  loose-box. 

Tearing  the  Blankets  may  be  remedied  by  allowing 
all  such  horses  to  stand  in  the  stable  with  none  on,  or  by 
fixing  a  rod  to  the  check-ring  of  the  head-halter,  and  the 
other  end  of  it  to  the  surcingle  or  roller  round  the  body. 

Yicious  TO  clean. — On  such  a  horse  put  a  wire  muz- 
zle, and  tie  the  head  tight  between  two  posts,  and  as  much 
as  possible  dispense  with  the  curry-comb  or  other  hard 
instruments,  especially  with  sensitive-skinned  horses. 


CHAPTEE    YI. 

CARRIAGES,  HARNESS,  &c. 

Carriages — Their  beauty  —  Lightness,  strength,  and  weakness  — 
Axles — Collings'  Patent — Patent  Mail  and  Half-mail — Common 
Springs — The  Elliptic  and  Shackle — Their  safety  and  strength 
— Care  of  Carriages,  and  how  to  wash  them — The  best  Grease 
for  Axles — Castor  Oil— Crown  Soap,  its  make  and  value — 
Harness — Specialties  in — "  Kemblc  Jackson"  Bridle — Kicking 
Strap — Four-in-hand — Tandem  — Care  of  Harness — Saddles  and 
Bridles — Bits — Their  variety  and  how  to  clean  them. 

Carriages. — Perhaps  no  nation  or  country  in  the  world 
displays  such  beautiful  light  wagons  and  carriages  as  are 
seen  in  Fairmount  Park,  Philadelphia,  and  the  Central 
Park,  New  York,  on  every  fine  day.  To  a  foreigner,  their 
light  airy  construction  is  in  remarkable  contrast  to  the 
heavy  equipages  of  Europe.  These  light  and  elegant  turn- 
outs are  peculiar  to  the  United  States.  The  material  of 
which  they  are  built  in  a  very  great  measure  insures  their 
safety  and  strength,  although  our  faith  in  their  safety  is 
often  shaken  by  the  accidents  that  occur,  and  which,  it 
must  be  confessed,  had  a  little  more  substance  and  strength 

(142) 


CARRIAGES.  143 

been  allowed,  would  have  been  preTented,  and  valuable 
lives  occasionally  have  been  saved.  Are  we  not  sustained 
in  this  view  by  the  cause  which  gave  rise  to  the  death  of 
the  late  Peter  Cagger,  of  New  York?  The  wheels  of  his 
wagon  broke  down  without  apparent  cause,  as  they  did  not 
come  in  collision  with  any  object,  but,  from  their  want  of 
strength,  were  unable  to  stand  the  smooth  avenues  of 
Central  Park,  when  attached  to  a  good  horse.  Would  not 
the  life  of  James  Harper,  of  the  same  city,  have  been 
saved,  if  his  carriage  had  been  somewhat  stronger,  to  have 
broken  the  force  of  the  collision  ?  And  why  was  the 
rotten  tree-box  on  Broad  Street,  Philadelphia,  stronger 
than  the  wagon  that  caused  the  death  of  Mr.  Levering  ? 

Those  who  are  fond  of  fast  horses,  should  adopt  the  sad- 
dle, and  eschew  the  "  toy"  called  a  wagon,  for  in  the  event 
of  a  slio-ht  collision,  down  2:oes  the  w\ao;on  and  all  that  is  in 
it,  and  away  runs  the  horse,  with  the  fragments  of  fashion- 
able folly  attached  to  him.  However,  we  do  not  soon 
expect  any  improvement  in  this  particular,  while  trotting 
takes  the  place  of  running  at  our  race  courses,  and  our 
streets  and  roads  remain  in  their  present  disgraceful  state. 
The  relation  of  good  or  bad  roads  to  horses,  carriages,  and 
wagons,  has  not  escaped  the  observation  of  Dr.  J.  Gr.  Hol- 
land ("  Timothy  Titcomb"),  who  writes  to  the  Sj^ruigjield 
Republican,  that  with  the  heavier  carriages  and  wagons  of 
Europe,  one  horse  does  with  more  ease  and  less  exertion, 
work  that  requires  two  in  this  country ;  and  moreover,  in 
the  city  of  London  the  horses  go  so  fast  without  accident, 
13 


144  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

that  their  pace  would  not  be  allowed  by  the  police  regula- 
tions of  Springfield,  Massachusetts.  He  concludes  his 
views  by  propounding  the  question  "  whether  it  would  not 
be  easier  and  less  expensive  for  us  to  keep  one  mile  of  road 
in  good  order,  than  to  buy  and  feed  an  extra  horse  ?"  We 
are  not  of  those  who  believe  that  by  increasing  the  safety 
of  carriages  and  wagons,  used  for  family  and  -pleasure  pur- 
poses, by  the  addition  of  a  little  extra  weight  to  them,  the 
improvement  of  trotters  would  not  be  continued,  and  that 
they  would  be  allowed  to  deteriorate.  The  Scotch  gentle- 
man was  about  right,  when  after  a  little  misunderstanding 
whether  he  or  his  coachman  should  keep  sober  to  drive 
home  one  evening  after  a  dinner  party,  and  on  the  arrival 
of  the  carriage  it  was  found  emiyty^  he  concluded  in  the 
morning  to  have  a  new  vehicle,  not  only  strong,  but  one 
that  would  positively  hold  in. 

We  do  not  charge  our  carriage  and  wagon  builders  with 
fraud  upon  their  too  unsuspecting  patrons,  but  they  are 
not  altogether  blameless,  inasmuch  as  we  see  the  fine  and 
expensive  carriage  often  provided  with  inferior  axles  and 
springs,  both  in  quality  and  make.  This  would  not  so 
often  be  the  case,  were  owners  better  informed  as  to  the 
'^essentials"  that  constitute  a  good  and  safe  carriage. 
Are  the  prices  of  carriages  and  wagons  not  sufficient  to 
afford  a  "  Collings"  axle,  that  are  so  safe  and  so  highly 
prized  by  every  person,  who  has  ever  had  them  in  use  ? 
Our  firemen  and  their  truck  builders  are  ahead  of  builders 
and  buyers  of  fine  carriages  in  this  particular. 


CARRIAGES.  145 

Among  the  many  advantages  of  the  "  Collings"  axle,  we 
may  mention,  that  it  does  not  need  bolts  to  hold  the  wheel 
in  its  place ;  and  it  requires  to  be  greased  or  oiled  only 
three  to  four  times  a  year.  These  axles  on  our  "  drag" 
have  been  greased  once  in  six  months,  and  then  they 
did  not  require  it.*  It  is  also  impossible  for  a  wheel  run- 
ning on  these  to  be  forced  off,  because  of  the  reversable 
brass  burrs,  three  in  number,  and  which  are  jSnally  secured 
by  a  tempered  steel  spring-keeper,  the  whole  covered  from 
view  by  a  silver  or  other  metal  ornamented  cup,  screwed 
to  and  revolving  with  the  wheel.  In  addition  to  the  above- 
named  advantages,  these  axles  are  made  by  a  peculiar  pro- 
cess, and  so  durable,  that  with  ordinary  care,  they  will  last 
the  wear  of  several  carriages  or  during  the  longest  lifetime. 
Yet,  notwithstanding  the  advantages  of  the  Collings,  the 
ordinary  cart  but  diminutive  axles  are  seen  too  often  on  our 
expensive  carriages. 

This  matter  of  axles  is  not  the  only  exception  we  make 
to  the  finish  of  a  perfect  carriage",  for  every  day  when  our 
attention  is  attracted  to  them,  the  springs  of  many  are 
also  decidedly  faulty,  and  even  dangerous  to  life  and 
destructive  to  the  other  portions  of  the  vehicle.  Let  us 
illustrate,  by  simple  reference  to  the  fact,  that  the  vipper 
and  lower  half  of  the  spring  being  joined  firmly  at  each 
end,  allowing  no  elongation  when  weight  is  placed  upon  it, 
the  result  that  naturally  follows  this   confinement  is  that 

*  The  material  for  greasing  was  castor  oil. 


146  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

the  spring  will  either  be  broken,  or  as  it  were  take  offence 
at  its  unreasonable  restraint,  and  toss  out  the  occupants 
of  the  carriage.  If,  however,  the  weight  be  not  sufficient 
to  do  this,  the  vehicle  will  be  a  very  miserable  one  to  ride 
in,  will  soon  become  worn  in  parts  and  discarded — if  in  the 
meantime,  the  driver  or  coachman  be  not  innocently 
blamed  for  rough  driving,  discharged,  and  another  a  little 
more  intelligent  employed,  who  will  find  out  the  cause  of 
the  difficulty.  We  have  known  instances  of  this  kind  to 
occur  in  Philadelphia. 

While  with  a  friend  at  Point  Breeze  Park  one  day,  a 
gentleman  drove  in  with  a  fine  horse  and  wagon.  My 
friend  asked  him  if  he  had  not  lost  the  cushions  ?  "  No ; 
they  are  under  the  seat,"  was  the  reply  j  and  on  further 
investigation  we  ascertained  that  the  gentleman  could  not 
keep  his  seat  on  the  cushion,  but  from  what  cause  he  did 
not  know.  My  friend  at  once  suggested  that  the  springs 
were  not  only  too  stiff  and  strong,  but  their  principle  of 
make  was  wrong  also. 

The  remedy  for  this  condition  of  things  lies  not  so  much 
with  the  buyer  as  with  the  builder,  although  the  intelli- 
gent are  not  innocent,  inasmuch  as  they  often  do  not 
demand  their  rights.  If  they  did,  builders  would  neces- 
sarily be  more  particular  as  to  the  safety,  comfort,  and 
construction  of  their  carriages,  and  give  a  ftur  return  for 
the  money  invested. 

The  springs  of  family  carriages  and  business  and  goods 
wagons  are,  on  the  whole,  made  on  better  principles  than 


SPRINGS — SHACKLES.  147 

tliose  placed  on  the  road  wagon,  because  the  C,  the  cradle, 
and  shackle  spring  are  still  used,  but  on  the  road  and 
trotting  wagon  are  not  to  be  seen.  Every  road  and  trot- 
ting wagon  should  be  placed  on  elliptic  springs  as  they  now 
are  built,  but  with  the  addition  of  a  sliacJde,  at  least  on  one 
end,  to  allow  of  elongation  and  contraction^  according  to  the 
weight  placed  upon  them,  and  the  condition  of  road  or 
street,  and  our  word  for  it  less  breakdowns  will  occur.* 

Until  we  have  the  introduction  of  shackles  to  allow 
shuttle  movement,  broken  springs  and  accidents  with  loss 
of  life  will  be  of  frequent  occurrence.  For  road  and  trotting 
wagons  of  two  springs,  one  in  front  and  one  behind,  and 
placed  along  the  axle,  a  shackle  on  one  end  of  each  will  be 
enough ;  but  this  would  give  an  odd  appearance ;  therefore 
to  prevent  this,  let  one  of  the  shortest  shackles  be  placed  at 
both  ends  of  each  of  the  two  springs,  making  them  more 
pleasing  to  the  eye  and  even  more  serviceable.  For  wagons 
of  four  springs,  and  placed  across  the  axles,  there  will  be 
DO  necessity  for  shackles  on  Loth  ends  of  the  spring,  either 
for  appearance  or  safety ;  but  let  the  shackle  be  placed  on 
the  end  reaching  under  the  body  of  the  wagon.  Carriages 
with  springs  so  constructed  are  easy  to  ride  in,  and  will 
wear  many  years  longer.  With  shackled  springs  and  Col- 
lings  axles,  we  can  sail — don't  say  ride — over  the  rough- 

*  It  is  estimated  that  $56,000,000  is  lost  annually  to  the  people 
of  the  United  States  in  wear  and  tear  of  horses,  vehicles  and  har- 
ness, by  bad  systems  of  road-making  and  street  paving, 

X3* 


148  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

est  and  most  hilly  roads  of  Delaware  county,  Pennsylvania, 
with  no  jarring  or  jostling  to  the  body,  nor  straining  to 
the  vehicle. 

We  must,  however,  leave  the  general  construction  of 
carriages  to  those  to  whom  it  more  properly  belongs.  Our 
best  axles  are  the  mail,  and  half-mail  or  half  patent,  and  are 
not  in  or  up  to  the  general  improvements  in  most  other 
things  made  by  our  mechanics. 

The  care  and  cleansing  of  Carriages  in  a  satisfac- 
tory and  proper  manner  is  understood  by  but  few  persons. 
Whether  carriages  be  idle  or  in  everyday  use,  they  never- 
theless require  care  and  attention.  Moths  and  rust,  mil- 
dew and  decay  are  the  result  of  idleness  and  improper 
housing,  and  can  only  be  prevented  by  good  ventilation 
and  dryness.  Carriages  in  daily  use  should  be  washed, 
ind  not  dusted,  after  the  journey  is  over,  with  cold 
water.  The  articles  in  use  for  the  washing  of  carriages 
are :  the  sponge,  one  for  the  panels  or  body  jDroper, 
which  should  be  kept  free  from  dirt  and  sand,  and 
another  for  the  under  carriage  and  wheels;  the  spoke- 
brush,  for  the  tires  of  the  wheels.  The  mop  of  cloth, 
attached  to  a  handle,  is  not  in  use  in  this  country,  as  the 
sponge  is  sufficient,  and  not  very  costly;  but  as  a  matter 
of  economy  it  is  an  excellent  contrivance  in  the  place  of 
tbe  sponge.  These  articles  are  for  the  rough  or  outside 
cleansing  of  carriages.  The  chamois  leather,  commonly 
called  the  wash-leather,  is  also  used  in  its  dry  and  wet 
state — the  wet  one  to   dry  or   absorb  the  moisture  after 


CLEANING    CAimiAGES.  149 

"washing,  the  dry  one  for  polishing  the  ghiss  of  the  windows 
and  phited  work  of  the  wheels,  doors,  &c.  A  duster  and 
fine-haired  brush  will  be  required  for  the  cushions  and 
lining,  whether  it  be  an  open  or  covered  carriage.  The 
first  movement  in  the  washing  of  a  fine  varnished  carriage 
is  to  move  it  where  sand  and  dirt  will  not  fly  against  it,  by 
the  splashing  of  water  on  the  ground  or  floor.  Such  a 
place  is  provided  in  city  or  private  stables  ■  not  so,  however, 
in  all  livery  and  country  stables ;  but  where  care  is  one  of 
the  elements  of  a  coachman's  nature,  he  will  have  a  round 
or  sparred  rack,  the  full  length  and  breadth  of  his  carriage, 
constructed  out  of  any  kind  of  spars  laid  on  the  ground, 
upon  which  the  carriage  stands  till  washed.  The  next 
movement  is  to  close  the  windows,  put  down  the  curtains, 
if  it  be  an  open  carriage,  remove  the  cushions  to  where 
they  will  not  get  wet,  and  commence  by  throwing  an  abun- 
dance of  cold  water  all  over  the  carriage,  at  first  on  the  top, 
which  will  also  wet  the  lower  parts  in  its  descent.  This  is 
important,  especially  if  the  vehicle  be  very  muddy,  so  that 
no  force  other  than  the  water  will  be  required  to  remove 
it.  This  being  accomplished,  the  top  and  panels  may 
then  be  slightly  washed  with  clear  water  with  the  sponge 
kept  for  this  purpose.  Allow  the  w^ater  to  drip  ofi"  whilst 
the  under  carriage  and  wheels  are  being  sponged,  and  when 
all  are  cleanly  washed,  sponge  with  their  respective 
sponges,  moist,  but  not  wet;  after  which  dry  with  the  wet 
or  damp  wash-leather.  The  carriage  may  now  be  opened 
and  the   curtains  rolled  up,  the  mountings  of  silver,  or 


150  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

whatever  they  may  be,  polished,  the  carriage  removed  to 
its  place,  and  before  it  is  used  again  the  inside  and  win- 
dows should  be  put  in  order. 

To  keep  carriages  looking  well  and  free  from  stains  as 
long  as  possible,  wash  them  shortly  after  coming  to  the 
stable,  if  the  hour  of  the  night  be  not  too  late.  If  the 
axles  be  common,  grease  with  "  crown  soap,"  so  that  the 
spots  or  stains  will  wash  off  again ;  but  if  the  axles  are 
one  of  the  patents,  use  castor  oil,  which  does  not  "  gum," 
and  can  in  great  part  b3  washed  off,  and  moreover,  lasts 
much  longer  than  almost  anything  else,  "  Crown"  soap 
is  now  much  used  by  steam  marine  engineers,  for  certain 
parts  of  the  machinery.  Crown  soap  is  simply  the  Scotch 
soft-soap,  but  differs  very  much  both  in  appearance  and 
material  from  the  American  soft-soap.  It  is  made  with 
whale  or  cod  oil  and  lie  of  potassa,  the  oil  giving  a  dark 
brown  color  to  it,  and  by  the  addition  of  a  small  proportion 
of  tallow,  the  solid  white  granulations  of  stearate  of  potassa 
are  formed,  giving  the  appearance  of  the  meat  of  figs. 
Soft-soaps  made  from  fats,  give  a  dirty  white  color  or  shade. 

The  crown  soap  is  largely  imported  into  this  country, 
and  is  chiefly  used  in  our  private  stables  for  harness,  sad- 
dles, bridles  and  leather,  saving  the  necessity  of  greasing 
or  oiling,  to  keep  them  soft.  In  addition,  we  now  recom- 
mend it  as  a  wheel-grease  for  common  axles,  which  cannot 
hold  grease  very  long.  The  manufacturer  of  soap,  who 
will  take  hold  of  it,  will  no  doubt  reap  a  fair  remuneration  ; 
for  what  is  bought  of  it  in  England  for  three  pence  (6 


HARNESS.  151 

cents),  is  sold  by  our  harness-makers,  saddlers  and  seeds- 
men for  one  dollar.* 

Harness,  its  make  and  material,  requires  little  notice, 
and  our  space  can  be  more  profitably  and  usefully  occupied. 
We  may  remark  that  it  should  be  fit  for  the  purpose  for 
which  it  is  intended,  plain  and  substantial,  either  with 
black  mounts,  or  those  of  silver  plate.  The  present  fashion 
of  Prince's  metal  mounts,  or  gold  imitation,  is  not  only 
wanting  in  good  taste,  but  difficult  to  keep  clean,  and  if  it 
is  not  clean,  looks  like  shabby  gentility.  Rather  adopt  the 
old  brass  mounts,  than  the  glitter  which  is  not  gold,  and 
which  is  a  source  of  annoyance  to  the  stableman  in  his 
efforts  to  cleanse  and  polish  ornaments,  and  please  his 
employer. 

Specialities  in  Harness. — Although  we  hear  much 
of  advice  and  remonstrance  from  the  Societies  for  the  Pre- 
vention of  Cruelty  to  Animals,  and  to  horses,  from  the  use 
of  the  bearing-rein,  nothing  has  been  publicly  said  about 

*  Cresylic  Soap. — A  soap  in  the  manufacture  of  which  carbolic 
acid  is  used,  and  which  stablemen  will  find  it  to  be  of  the  greatest 
oenefit,  in  the  healing  of  sores  of  all  kinds.  Scratches,  chafes  from 
the  saddle,  collar,  or  other  parts  of  the  harness,  mange,  ring-worm, 
flies,  fleas,  lice  and  parasites,  whether  on  the  horse  or  dog,  will 
surely  be  cured  by  the  use  of  this  soap.  Its  disinfectant  properties 
are  so  great  that  its  use  is  almost  demanded  in  the  cleansing  of 
stables,  harness,  brushes  and  combs,  Avhen  infectious  and  conta- 
gious diseases  have  been  in  the  stable.  Those  persons  at  all 
acquainted  with  the  properties  of  carbolic  acid,  will  at  once  recog- 
nise the  great  value  of  cresylic  soap. 


152  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

tlie  effects  arising,  whether  injurious  or  otherwise,  from 
the  use  of  the  new-fledged  contrivance  of  a  bridoon  bridle 
for  single  or  double  carriage  driving.  It  cannot  be  from 
its  harmless  use  that  the  silence  from  such  a  quarter  is  to 
be  attributed,  but  more  perhaps  from  attention  not  being 
directed  to  it. 

This  bridle,  perhaps,  would  be  of  no  more  injury  or 
inconvenience  to  the  driving  or  family  carriage-horse  than 
the  old  English  bridoon  bridle  and  bit,  were  it  used  and 
applied  with  the  horse  in  the  same  way,  for  certainly  it  is 
for  the  same  purposes  and  with  the  same  end  in  view. 
Correctly  speaking,  it  is  only  part  of  the  harness  of  the 
horse's  head  and  mouth.  In  the  mode  of  use  or  applica- 
tion of  this  contrivance  to  the  mouth,  head,  and  neck  of 
the  horse,  lies  its  great  objection  in  our  view.  Instead  of 
the  application  or  attachments  to  the  bridoon  bit  in  the 
mouth,  being  by  two  ends  of  a  strap,  and  carried  to  the 
middle  turret  on  the  harness-saddle,  by  the  old  style  of 
bearing-rein,  and  secured  there,  this  rein  is  carried  from 
the  mouth  up  the  face,  forehead,  and  along  the  crest  of 
the  mane,  and  is  secured  as  in  the  old  style,  to  the  middle 
hook  or  turret  of  the  saddle. 

The  objection  is  not  so  much  to  the  bridle  as  to  the 
mode  of  bearing.  Thus  the  bearing  against  the  lower  jaw, 
as  with  the  ordinary  way  of  bearing-rein,  is  done  away 
with,  and  the  bit  is  pulled  up  with  persistent  force  by  a 
powerful  leverage,  against  the  soft  muscles  and  skin  of 
each  side  of  the  mouth,  to  its  injury,  causing  the  head  to 


HARNESS — KICKING-STRAP.  153 

be  carried  very  higli  and  in  an  unnatural  position.  Indeed 
it  is  a  severe  gag  in  the  mouth,  possessing  all  the  faults 
and  giving  rise  to  all  the  evils  of  the  bridoon  and  bit,  with- 
out any  advantages,  unless  it  be  the  extreme  elevation  of 
the  head  by  the  fulcrum  or  crown  of  the  head,  over  which 
this  contrivance  plays. 

To  close  this  notice  of  a  Kemble  Jackson  bridle  without 
protesting  against  its  use,  would  be  a  dereliction  of  duty 
to  an  animal  that  deserves  better  treatment  at  our  hands. 
Happily,  however,  its  use  is  not  general  among  our  horse- 
men, but  is  confined  chiefly  to  some  livery  and  sales  stables, 
to  create  the  impression  to  the  simple  in  such  matters,  of 
the  extra  style  and  show  of  an  animal  designed  to  be  parted 
with,  or  sold  whenever  a  price  can  be  obtained — and  is  one 
of  the  means  adopted  to  attract  attention  of  customers  by 
a  display  of  his  style  and  high  carriage. 

The  Kicking-strap. — This  is  not  the  contrivance 
exhibited  to  audiences  by  so  called  "  horse-tamers,^'  but 
a  plain  strap  passing  over  the  loins  of  the  horse  when  in 
harness,  and  buckled  to  a  strap  passing  round  the  shafts 
of  the  wagon.  By  its  use  when  so  attached,  the  mere 
effort  to  kick  by  raising  the  hind  parts,  elevates  the  shafts 
and  front  part  of  the  wagon,  thus  keeping  the  vehicle  at 
all  times  at  good  distance  from  ordinary  kicking  horses 
heels.  In  Europe,  the  kicking-strap  is  used  on  all  road 
horses,  instead  of  the  ordinary  breeching,  looks  better,  and 
is  less  cumbersome. 

FouR-iN-HAND. — However  much  we  admire  this  drive, 


154  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

which  is  occasionally  seen,  it  does  not,  as  a  rule,  find  favor 
among  our  wealthiest  citizens,  although  some  have  adopted 
it.  There  are  many  styles  of  these  turnouts,  and  all  are 
more  or  less  elegantly  and  expensively  gotten  up. 

Tandem  is  a  style  of  driving  not  often  seen  and  not  much 
admired.  It  is  difficult  to  manage,  and  our  streets  are  no 
place  for  its  use.  It  requires  a  good  macadamized  road,  very 
little  crowded.  The  harness  for  this  drive,  like  the  four- 
in-hand,  is  a  mere  duplicate  of  that  on  the  wheel-horses,  the 
traces  and  reins  and  whip  being  of  suitable  length,  with  the 
addition  of  a  person  who  knows  how  to  use  them. 

Care  of  Harness. — The  harness,  like  the  carriage, 
requires,  when  dirty,  to  be  washed  with  water  and  dried 
with  wash-leather,  and  finally  blackened  with  blacking  and 
polished  with  a  brush. 

The  following  is  a  valuable  receipt  for  the  making  of 
harness  paste  or  blacking  : — 


Beeswax 
Crown  soap 
Ivory  black 
Indigo  . 
Oil  of  turpentine 


^  pound. 
Y  pound. 

2  ounces. 
IJ  ounces. 

3  tablespoonfuls. 


Dissolve  in  a  vessel  over  a  slow  fire,  and  stir  till  the  mixture  is 
perfectly  cold. 

The  above  should  be  all  that  new  or  soft  harness  should 
get,  not  only  as  a  polishing  agent,  but  as  a  softening  com- 
pound. If  the  harness  be  very  hard  and  stifi",  soften  it 
with  the  following  mixture  : — 


CARE    OF    HARNESS.  155 

Linseed  oil       .         .         .         .         .         .1  pint. 

Tallow    .......     1  pound. 

Beeswax  ......     1  ounee. 

Eosin       .......      1  ounce. 

Dissolve  over  a  slow  fire,  and  apply  warm. 

For  fine  new  and  costly  harness,  at  least  for  the  first 
year,  the  crown  soap  already  spoken  of  is  all  that  will  be 
found  necessary.  The  crown  soap  is  not  used  so  much  for 
ivashing  the  harness  as  it  is  for  softening  and  keeping  the 
leather  j)liable,  and  may  be  applied  as  follows  :  The  harness 
being  previously  cleansed  and  dry,  smear  on  a  little  with 
the  hand,  as  if  going  through  the  process  of  greasing  or 
oiling;  after  this,  come  lightly  over  it  with  a  wet  or  damp 
sponge,  and  dry  with  the  wash-leather.  A  fine  soft 
appearance,  not  unlike  a  piece  of  dressed  kid  skin,  will  be 
the  result.  If  a  polish  be  required  shortly  afterward,  the 
harness  will  have  to  be  thoroughly  polished  previous  to 
soaping,  softening,  or  greasing,  and  a  polish  can  immedi- 
ately be  produced,  with  little  labor,  by  the  use  of  the 
paste.  The  mountings  of  silver  are  less  troublesome 
to  keep  in  good  condition  than  any  other  kind,  even 
by  soap  and  water ;  but  a  slight  rub  with  a  dry  chamois 
blackened  with  lampblack  and  dipped  in  a  little  whiting, 
will  be  all  that  can  be  desired. 

Brass  and  Prince's  or  yellow  metal  mounts  are  difficult 

to   keep  clean  and   free  from  stains  or  spots,  which    can 

hardly  be  removed  by  rubbing,  if  not  j)reviously  moistened 

by  some  of  the  mineral  acids.     To  save  labor  and  make  a. 

14 


156  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

perfect  polish  without  stains  in  the  metal,  the  following 
receipt  will  be  found  a  very  effective  and  valuable  polish- 
ing liquid  : — 

Sulphuric  acid      ,     .         .         .         .  .1  ounce. 

Cold  Avater       ......     J  pint. 

Tripoli    .......     1  ounce. 

Pour  the  acid  into  the  Avater  in  a  bowl,  till  the  heat  that  is  gen- 
erated passes  off;  then  pour  it  into  a  bottle  and  add  the  tripoli. 
This  will  prevent  the  breaking  of  the  bottle  and  the  loss  of  the 
liquid. 

The  above  mixture  was  given  by  us  to  a  few  persons, 
and  was  used  with  great  effect  for  the  first  time  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1868  at  Long  Branch.  It  is  next  to  impossible 
to  keep  brass  and  yellow  metal  in  order  at  the  sea  side. 

Saddles  are,  since  the  late  war.  made  of  various  shapes 
and  of  different  materials,  each  of  which,  no  doubt,  pos- 
sesses properties  of  value,  peculiar  to  itself,  and  as  we  are 
not  as  a  people  much  in  favor  of  scampering  on  horseback, 
we  will  confine  ourselves  to  the  case  of  saddles  made  in 
part  of  the  skin  of  the  pig  and  of  other  brown  leather. 
Saddles  should,  like  harness  and  carriages,  be  washed  when 
dirty,  and  when  not  in  use  covered  from  the  dust  and  pro- 
tected from  moths.  To  give  a  fine  dark  brown  shade  to 
white  or  brown  leather,  nothing  answers  so  good  a  purpose 
as  the  watery  portion  of  the  blood  of  the  ox,  kept  in  a 
corked  bottle  and  protected  from  smelling  and  decay  by  a 
few  drops  or  grains  of  carbolic  acid  mixed  with  it.  As  a 
substitute  for  this,  no  better  is  known  than  the  crown  soap, 


SADDLES — BRIDLES — BITS.  157 

botV.  for  coloring  and  keeping  the  material  in  good  order. 
As  a  preventive  of  the  moth  in  saddles,  blankets,  &c.,  a 
strong  solution  of  carbolic  acid  should  be  sprinkled  over 
and  amongst  them  before  they  are  covered  up. 

Bridles  for  riding  purposes  are  made  of  brown  leather^ 
and  are  kept  and  cleaned  like  the  saddle. 

Bits  for  riding  or  driving  'are  of  many  patterns  and 
devices,  each  of  which  has  its  distinct  name;  but  as  a 
universal  bit  for  riding  and  driving,  the  plain  snaffle  is  the 
one.  Some  horses  with  hard  mouths  require  a  curb,  and 
as  a  matter  of  safety  and  taste,  when  on  horseback,  a 
double  bit  is  used,  a  snaffle  and  curb,  separate  or  combined. 
When  separate,  the  curb  is  called  a  Pelham  bit ;  but  some 
prefer  a  Hanovarian,  a  bit  of  greater  power  and  purchase 
on  the  mouth  of  the  horse.  Those  who  are  familiar  with 
the  writings  of  Baucher  of  France,  will  see  that  he  insists 
that  one  kind  of  bit  is  sufficient  for  all  horses,  and  inas- 
much as  his  choice  falls  upon  a  double  bit  or  bit  and  bri- 
doon,  we  cannot  but  agree  with  him  that  the  horse  that 
cannot  be  managed  by  either  snaffle  or  curb,  is  not  worth 
having  or  contending  with.  Bits  are  made  of  polished 
steel ;  but  to  encourage  laziness  they  are  often  plated  with 
silver,  which  soon  becomes  rusty  and  shabby.  The  stable- 
man that  cannot  keep  a  few  bits  from  rusting,  is  not  likely 
to  be  a  good  groom.  Bits  cost  too  much  money  to  let 
them  rust  because  they  have  been  plated.  No  cover  to 
polished  steel  can  improve  its  appearance.  An  old  plated 
steel  bit  is  worthless,  but  one  of  clear  steel  will  command 


158  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

its  value.  Bar-sand,  soap  and  a  piece  of  woollen  cloth  are 
all  that  is  necessary  to  clean  steel  bits  and  keep  them  in 
order.  Tasty  persons  burnish  the  bits  every  time  they 
are  used.  Before  putting  them  aside,  it  will  be  necessary, 
to  prevent  rust,  to  have  them  wiped  over  with  a  woollen 
rag,  previously  oiled  with  salad  or  sweet  oil. 

Carriage  or  family  horses,  however  gentle  and  kind  in 
temper,  disposition,  easy  of  mouth,  and  management  when 
in  harness,  should  never  be  trusted  without  bits,  because 
we  see  too  often  the  folly  of  such  dependence.  We  can 
call  to  memory  the  loss  of  life  and  destruction  of  property, 
arising  from  such  a  neglect. 

The  single  and  double  harness  horse,  however  gentle  he 
may  be,  can  only  be  considered  safe  and  manageable  in  the 
moment  of  danger  when  provided  with  a  curb  or  bar  bit. 
Circumstances  will  occasionally  arise  in  which  power  and 
promptitude  can  only  save  from  accident — like  the  good 
staunch  ship,  in  strict  obedience  to  its  rudder  in  the  storm. 
However  unpleasant  the  mouth  of  the  horse  may  feel  with 
a  snaffle-bit,  there  can  be  no  exceptional  argument  as  to  its 
universal  safety,  under  certain  conditions ;  for  no  well-fed, 
spirited  horse,  when  excited,  can  be  controlled  by  one 
person,  with  a  plain  bit  in  its  mouth.  It  is  this  know- 
ledge, we  believe,  which  gave  for  the  saddle-horse  a  double 
bridle,  with  both  snaffle  and  curb  bit,  either  of  which  can 
be  used  in  the  moment  of  danger.  The  safety-rein  in  use 
in  some  parts  of  Europe,  and  used  for  safety  on  harness- 
horses,  has  the  same  pui'pose.     It  is  buckled  to  a  curb  or 


BITS — THE    CURB.  159 

powerful  bit,  while  the  driving  reins  arc  attached  to  the 
rings  of  a  plain  snaffle.  Thus  the  ''  snaffle-mouthed"  horse 
is  driven  with  pleasure  to  all  concerned,  and  at  the  same 
time  safety  is  fully  insured  by  a  gentle  reminder,  or  use  of 
the  reins,  of  the  powerful  Pelham,  Hanoverian,  or,  it  may 
be  the  carriage  harness  curb,  or  bar  bit. 

The  bridoon  and  bit  of  the  family  carriage  horse  answers 
the  same  purpose,  but  their  use  is  a  little  reversed,  as  the 
snaffle  is  attached  to  the  bearing-rein,  and  the  driving-reins 
to  the  curb,  by  which  the  horse  is  guided  and  driven  with 
safety  and  pleasure  to  all. 

The  Curb  and  its  use  merits  a  word  from  us  on  the 
same  account,  because  upon  its  presence  or  absence,  and 
proper  attachment  to  the  bit,  depend  the  control  of  the 
horse  and  safety  of  the  person  on  or  behind  him. 

Curbs  are  made  of  steel  links  or  chain,  and  attached  to 
each  side  of  the  bit  by  spring  hooks,  and  when  properly 
adjusted,  lie  immediately  on  or  behind  the  chin.  The 
tightness  of  the  chain-curb  should  be  just  sufficient  to 
admit  a  finger  between  it  and  the  horse's  lower  jaw. 

Curbs  of  leather  straps  are  not  safe,  either  in  strength 
or  severity,  when  danger  approaches,  and  should  therefore 
be  replaced  by  the  curb-chain.  Some  riders  consider 
themselves  unsafe  Avithout  a  Lip-strap  to  pass  through  a 
ring  in  the  centre  of  the  curb,  and  attached  to  each  side 
of  the  bridle,  to  prevent  the  horse  from  working  the  bit  up 
between  his  teeth,  and  holding  it  there,  in  defiance  of  his 
14- 


160  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

rider.     In  harness,  tlie  same  contrivance  can  with  equal 
effect  be  applied. 

Whatever  deference  may  be  paid  to  a  favorite  groom  or 
coachman  in  matters  of  the  stable,  allow  no  change  from  a 
curb-bit  with  chain  curb,  under  any  circumstances,  "  be- 
cause," as  a  faithful  coachman  said  to  us  the  other  day, 
'•  they  may  be  wanted  were  they  not  on."  It  is  the  want 
of  a  thing  that  more  forcibly  and  frequently  attests  its 
•value,  for  by  its  use  we  are  apt  to  overlook  its  true  worth 
by  its  saving  influence. 


CHAPTER   YIL 

VETERINARY   SURGEONS. 

Veterinary  Nostrums  of  the  Stableman — Fattening — Glossing  the 
Coat — Conditioning  Horses. 

Perhaps  no  interest  of  the  stable  is  of  as  mucli  import- 
ance to  the  owner  of  horses  as  the  assurance  of  the  services 
of  a  sensible  veterinarian,  not  only  when  sickness  or  acci- 
dent occurs,  but  as  an  adviser,  with  a  view  to  the  pre- 
vention of  disease  and  the  promotion  of  a  high  standard  of 
health  in  the  horse. 

In  a  year  or  so  it  is  our  intention  to  retire  from  the 
veterinary  profession  to  the  quiet  shades  of  a  country  home, 
never  more  to  return  to  active  life,  unless  it  be  not  to  assist 
with  our  advice  immediate  neighbors,  in  the  stable,  field, 
or  fold. 

We  have  thus  prefaced  with  the  above  remarks,  in  order 
to  show  that  we  have  no  private  ends  to  serve  or  prejudice 
to  vent  in  a  review  of  this  important  stable  adjunct.  Our 
success  and  profit  in  practice,  together  with  the  advan- 
tages accrued  thereby  to   patrons,   leave   for  us  nothing 

(161) 


162   •  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

further  to  be  desired;  therefore  we  can  afford  to  give 
honest  views  and  truthful  expressions  as  a  guide  in  the 
selection  of  a  veterinary  surgeon.  In  a  country  like  this, 
it  is  therefore  to  be  expected  that  there  are  persons  of 
almost  every  nationality  to  be  found  in  all  our  large  cities 
and  towns  following  and  practising  veterinary  medicine  and 
surgery.  The  success  to  themselves  and  satisfaction  to 
their  employers  we  will  not  individually  attempt  to  trace ', 
but  it  is  our  undoubted  conviction,  arising  from  experi- 
ence and  the  practice  of  others,  that  no  school  or  nation- 
ality of  veterinary  science  is  as  perfect  as  it  should  be,  and 
its  followers  therefore  partake  of  the  same  deficiency,  if  by 
intuition  the  necessity  of  a  good  medical  education  be  not 
seen  and  acquired  in  addition  thereto.  This  will  be  seen 
without  argument,  when  we  find  the  preponderance  in 
numbers  of  celebrated  veterinarians  throughout  the  world 
to  be  M.  D.'s  in  addition  to  V.  S. 

We  need  not  refer  to  the  dashing  young  student  (Cole- 
man), of  Sir  Astley  Cooper,  the  great  surgeon  of  England, 
Percival,  the  accomplished  gentleman  and  author,  and  of 
Professor  Gamgee  himself,  who  has  in  his  writings  dis- 
tinctly stated  that  by  a  combination  of  a  veterinary  and 
domestic  medical  education,  the  most  perfect  of  veterina- 
rians are  produced.  Mr.  Greaves,  a  veterinary  surgeon  of 
good  standing,  in  Manchester,  England,  and  one  of  the 
board  of  examiners  of  the  students  of  the  Royal  College 
of  veterinary  surgeons  of  London,  states  that  many  of  its 
graduates  do  not  even  know  in  which  leg  a  horse  is  lame. 


VETERINARY    SURGEONS.  163 

This,  to  our  knowledge  is  not  only  true  of  some  of  tliem 
in  tlieir  own  country,  but  of  this  also,  and  we  know  of  but 
few  of  them  who  ever  brought  credit  upon  their  alma 
mater ^  the  profession,  or  M.  R.  C.  V.  S.  How  is  it  that 
their  proficiency  in  theory  is  so  seldom  borne  out  by  facts, 
when  laid  before  our  courts  of  justice  and  Philadelphia 
lawyers,  in  cases  of  veterinary  medical  jurisprudence  ? 

We  would  not  have  placed  the  blame  of  almost  universal 
inefficiency  to  any  particular  school,  were  we  not  exactly 
informed  of  it  by  our  distinguished  friend  and  surgeon 
Professor  Samuel  D.  Gross,  M.  D.,  of  the  Jefferson  Medical 
College  of  Philadelphia,  who  in  accordance  with  the 
expressed  wish  of  the  "  x\merican  Medical  Association," 
as  a  committee  on  veterinary  colleges  in  the  United  States, 
visited  several  like  institutions  in  England  and  France, 
during  his  late  tour  abroad. 

In  confirmation,  independent  of  our  experience  as  to  the 
general  inefficiency  of  some  of  the  graduates  from  this 
college,  we  will  merely  refer  to  the  controversy  that  arose 
on  contraction  of  the  horse's  foot,  between  Robert  Bonner, 
Esq.,  of  New  York,  and  Veterinary  Professor  John 
Gamgee,  of  London. 

The  unsatisfactory  result  of  the  special  examination  as  to 
the  cause  and  nature  of  the  Texan  cattle  disease  certainly 
adds  nothing  to  its  credit. 

The  Scotch  or  Edinburgh  graduates  who,  although  fully 
entitled  to  the  appellation  of  M.  R.  C.  V.  S.,  by  the  sign 
manual  of  1858,  forming  the  law  of  affiliation  of  all  the 


164  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

veterinary  colleges  of  the  Britisli  Islands,  absolutely  refuse 
to  advipt  its  title  or  recognise  the  St.  Pancras  or  London 
institution. 

The  German  veterinarians  are  mostly  followers  of  Hahne- 
mann and  homoeopathy,  and  can  only  give  satisfaction  to 
those  who  believe  in  its  tenets. 

The  French  are  intelligent,  and  are  as  a  whole  good 
practitioners,  a  little  unnecessarily  cruel,  perhaps,  in  some 
operations,  but  brilliant  in  their  execution.  The  want  of 
good  knowledge  of  the  English  language  militates  much 
against  them,  as  it  does  also  against  the  Grerman  and 
other  European  continental  practitioners,  when  in  this 
country. 

Of  whatever  nationality  or  school,  the  person  to  be  fully 
relied  upon  must,  in  addition,  have  a  few  years'  practice 
and  observation  before  a  reliable  knowledge  can  be  acquired 
as  to  the  climate  and  constitution  of  American  horses  and 
other  animals.  Persons  in  the  profession  without  this 
observation  can  never  be  adepts  in  the  art,  or  give  satisfac- 
tion to  their  employers,  or  obtain  profit  for  themselves. 

The  American  practitioner,  whether  native  or  of  long 
residence,  is  good  or  indifferent,  just  in  proportion  to  the 
acquirements  of  the  national  smartness  or  general  intelli- 
gence. On  the  whole  they  are  a  set  of  reliable  and  useful 
members  of  society,  and  are  entitled  to  confidence,  being 
well  aware  that  an  active  competition  would  otherwise  soon 
overwhelm  and  almost  extinguish  their  professional  indi- 
viduality and  reputation  in  the  profession. 


VETERINARY   NOSTRUMS.  165 

The  Veterinary  Nostrums  of  the  stableman  and  pro- 
fessional horseman,  are  perhaps  too  extensive  and  too 
various  to  require  individual  mention.  Their  use  or  object 
being  almost  entirely  conjSned  to  improving  the  condition 
of  the  horse,  but  more  especially  to  producing  a  sleek  and 
glossy  coat.  Some  few  stablemen,  however,  make  great 
pretension  to  veterinary  knowledge,  and  are  too  ready  to 
test  it  on  the  property  of  their  employers.  This  should 
not  be  allowed,  where  good  and  experienced  veterinary 
surgeons  can  conveniently  be  obtained.  It  is  poor  policy 
and  worse  logic ;  for  according  to  it,  the  barber  by  force  of 
circumstances  can  take  the  place  of  the  flxmily  physician. 

Without  at  all  referring  to  the  treatment  of  diseases  of 
horses  by  the  veterinary  knowledge  acquired  in  the  stable, 
on  the  box  of  the  carriage,  or  back  of  the  horse,  we  will 
merely  mention  the  means  used  by  some  of  them,  for  the 
purpose  of  fattening  and  smoothing  the  coats  of  horses. 

Arsenic. — Arsenic  of  commerce  or  white  arsenic  is  by 
the  dealer  considered  a  great  favorite  in  the  fattening  of 
horses,  and  it  must,  in  truth  be  said,  will  not  when  given 
in  moderate  doses  and  continued  sufficiently  long,  fail  to 
please  the  giver.  The  dose  should  not  exceed  five  grains ; 
we  have  known  much  suffering  and  loss  of  animal  life  and 
property  by  the  use  of  this  drug  when  purchased  according 
to  its  money  value. 

Horses  fed  with  arsenic  are  difficult  to  keep  in  good  con- 
dition and  with  a  smooth  coat  of  hair,  when  after  a  time 
they  are  deprived  of  the  drug. 


166  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

Antimony,  Sulphur  and  Nitrate  of  Potassa  or 
Saltpetre  in  certain  proportions  is  not  an  American  nos- 
trum^ but  of  English  origin,  and  is  often  used  by  persons 
in  the  American  stable,  not  so  much  for  fattening  pur- 
poses as  for  giving  a  fine  coat,  which  it  will  not  fail  to  do. 
It  must,  however,  be  remembered  that  antimony  is  a  metal 
difficult  of  solution,  and  consequently  injurious  to  the  pas- 
sive organs  of  the  body,  such  as  the  liver  and  kidneys,  in 
which,  after  death,  it  can  be  seen  throughout  their  sub- 
stance. 

AssAFCETTDA. — This  gum-resin  is  a  substance  of  frequent 
use  for  the  promotion  of  the  appetite  and  spirit  of  the 
horse,  and  some,  on  account  of  the  alliaceous  smell,  tie  a 
piece  of  it  to  the  bridle  bit  to  prevent  horses  from  "  catch- 
ing" any  disease.  It  is  a  good  bitter  and  will  promote  the 
appetite,  but  has  no  effect  as  a  preventive  of  sickness. 
Gentian  Root  would  be  a  good  substitute  for  assafoetida 
for  the  stomach  of  the  horse,  when  given  in  half  ounce 
doses. 

Carraway  and  Coriander  Seeds  singly,  or  combined 
with  Fenugreek,  are  great  favorites  with  many  persons  for 
promoting  the  appetite,  but  are  too  costly;  and'moreover, 
better  and  more  economical  substitutes  can  be  had. 

Sweet  Oil  and  Mustard  Seed  are  used  by  some  sta- 
blemen to  smooth  the  coat — one  ounce  of  oil  to  a  teaspoon- 
ful  of  the  mustard  seed.  It  will  here  be  observed,  that  the 
oil  is  a  good  fattening  material  when  given  to  animals  in 
doses   not  sufficient  to  move  the  bowels   or  disturb   the 


VETERINARY    NOSTRUMS.  167 

stomach,  and  the  seed  of  mustard  would  be  more  effectual, 
were  it  ground  before  being  given. 

Of  the  effects  of  the  above  mixture,  we  cannot  speak 
from  experience,  but  we  are  fully  assured  by  those  in  whom 
we  can  believe,  that  it  is  beneficial. 

Gunpowder  and  White  of  Egg  are  among  the  pecu- 
liar and  inexplicable  improvers  of  animal  tissue,  why,  we 
cannot  well  understand,  nevertheless,  they  are  occasionally 
employed  for  the  purpose  of  giving  spirit  and  life  to  horses 
of  easy  disposition  and  not  disposed  to  run  off.  The  effects 
produced  by  a  few  days'  administration,  we  are  assured  by 
one  who  has  employed  this  mixture,  to  be  almost  miracu- 
lous, causing  quiet  horses  to  attempt  to  run  away.  We 
do  not  vouch  for  the  truth  of  the  effects  of  the  above. 
Those  who  are  curious,  can  with  little  trouble  and  expense 
test  the  effects  for  themselves. 

Willow-Bark  Tea. — This  is  a  favorite  as  well  as  a 
harmless  substance,  when  given  to  horses,  mixed  in  their 
feed;  it  imparts  good  spirits  and  appearance.  The  bark  is 
gathered  before  the  young  shoots  are  ripe  and  the  sap  of 
the  tree  has  gone  down.  Then  it  is  dried  in  a  low-heated 
oven,  or  in  the  sun,  and  a  few  ounces  of  it  put  into  a  pot, 
with  a  quart  of  water,  and  boiled  down  to  a  pint.  A  tum- 
blerful is  poured  over  the  feed  once  a  day,  or  at  night  only. 

We  do  not  doubt  the  efficacy  of  this  as  a  conditioner  and 
appetizer  of  the  horse,  as  the  willow  or  osier  contains  a 
principle  similar  in  some  respects  to  the  valuable  and  costly 
quinine. 
15 


168  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

Snake  Root — Virginiana  AristolocMa  Serpen feria. — 
A  great,  and  perhaps  the  greatest  and  most  favorite  of 
all  the  stable  bitters  for  the  conditioning  and  laying  of 
the  coats  of  carriage  horses — at  least  it  is  so  in  Philadel- 
phia. There  are  few  coachmen  in  this  city  who  have  not 
recourse  to  its  efficacy.  The  root,  after  being  gathered  and 
dried,  is  fit  for  use.  A  portion  of  it  is  placed  in  an  earthen 
or  iron  pot  or  vessel,  covered  with  cold  water,  and  allowed 
to  steep  for  an  indefinite  time.  The  liquor  only  is  used, 
and  poured  on  and  mixed  with  the  evening  meal  every 
night,  or  till  the  expected  improvement,  whether  of  appe- 
tite or  condition,  or  both,  be  satisfactory.  It  certainly  does 
not  offer  those  objections  which  exist  against  other  articles 
in  use  for  conditioning  horses. 

The  above-named  articles  in  use  by  stablemen  and  others 
are,  as  a  rule,  given  to  the  horse  without  the  knowledge  or 
consent  of  the  owner,  but  in  the  most  secret  manner. 
Certainly  the  owner  is  seldom  if  ever  appealed  to  for  any- 
thing for  such  a  purpose,  but  he  may  be  and  is  often  told 
that  time,  &c.,  will  improve  the  animals  of  the  stable,  little 
suspecting  the  use  or  effects  of  drugs. 

Our  substitute  for  any  or  all  of  the  above,  either 
harmless  or  injurious  to  the  horse,  is  composed  of  materials 
indicated  by  the  general  condition  and  constitution  of 
horses,  viz.,  a  disposition  to  anemia  or  thinness  of  blood, 
and  consequent  want  of  spirit  and  fineness  of  coat  or  hair. 
These  conditions  are  best  met  when  the  materials  for  blood 
making  enter  the  stomach,  coupled  with  those  substances 


VETERINARY  NOSTRUMS.  169 

known  to  promote  digestion  and  assimilation  of  tlie  food — 
as  follows  : — 

Sulphate  of  iron,  powdered     .         .         .2  ounces. 
Gentian  root,  "  ...     4  ounces. 

Pimento  berries,         "  ...     4  ounces. 

Mix,  and  divide  into  twelve  powders.  Give  one  in  the  evening 
feed  two  or  three  times  a  week. 

It  must  not  be  forgotten  tliat  good  sound  corn,  oats,  haj, 
stabling,  bedding,  and  grooming  are  all  that  is  required  for 
the  health  of  horses.  The  effects  of  colds,  coughs,  &c., 
however,  should  not  be  neglected,  as  they  have  a  very  great 
tendency  to  give  rise  to  watery  and  weak  blood.  To  over- 
come this,  a  few  doses  of  the  above  mixture  will  do  good, 
and  may  be  the  means  of  saving  a  valuable  horse. 

To  continue  further  the  subject  of  nostrums,  we  may 
state  that  they  are  not  confined  to  fattening  of  horses,  but 
for  every  species  of  sores,  lameness,  &c.  We  have  never 
heard  mention,  in  all  our  experience  in  stables  and  among 
horsemen,  of  anything  superior  to  a  trot  or  heavy  blanket 
that  is  used  to  check  a  "  chill"  upon  a  horse.  We  consider 
it  of  more  importance  than  all  the  nostrums  combined ;  for 
the  effects  of  a  chill  are  usually  in  strict  proportion  to  its 
severity  and  duration.  To  supply  a  safe  and  certain 
remedy  as  a  check  to  a  congestive  or  other  chill,  will  be  to 
the  coachman  or  horseman  a  matter  of  the  first  importance, 
when  it  is  remembered  that  the  chill,  if  not  almost  imme- 
diately  checked,  will   the    next   day,  or   perhaps  sooner, 


170  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

result  in  pleurisy,  lung  disease,  bowel  affections,  or  foun- 
dering. 

Make  a  solution  of  the  acetate  of  ammonia,  eight  ounces, 
and  give  as  a  drench  out  of  a  bottle,  and  increase  the 
clothing  till  the  chill  is  checked.  It  should  be  given  when 
freshly  made. 

Horses  are  subject  to  chills  in  winter  after  drinking 
water.  To  avoid  this,  fill  each  bucket  and  place  them  in 
the  stable  on  a  sparred  rack  laid  on  the  floor,  so  that  the 
water  will,  before  the  hour  for  watering  comes  around,  be 
of  the  temperature  of  the  stable,  and  near  that  of  the  body 
of  the  horses  also. 


CHAPTER    EIGHTH. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Breeding  and  Training  of  Horses — Accidents — Sprains — Diseases 
— Runaway  Horses — Pasturing  of  Colts  and  young  Horses — 
Clipping — Good  Eeed  overlooked,  but  an  important  agent  in  im- 
provement of  Breeds  of  Horses. 

Breeding  and  Training  of  Horses. — We  would  re- 
spectfully recommend  all  who  are  interested  in  this  impor- 
tant subject,  to  peruse  the  work  entitled  "  The  Horse 
in  the  Stable  and  the  Field." 

Accidents. — In  the  case  of  accidents  to  horses  in  the 
stable  of  whatever  character,  time  should  be  taken  to  con- 
sider the  nature  of  the  injury,  and  determine  the  best 
course  to  pursue,  and  not  to  be  in  haste  to  have  recourse 
to  nostrums,  bleeding,  blistering,  physicking,  or  starving 
the  suffering  animal.  Soothe  any  irritation  or  agitation 
under  which  the  horse  may  suffer;  allow  free  ventilation, 
and  give  it  all  the  cold  water  it  may  desire.  Then,  if  it  be 
necessary,  a  good  sensible  veterinary  surgeon  may  be  called 
in  to  consult  with  the  owner  as  to  the  cause,  cure,  and  pre- 
vention of  the  disease  in  future.  Simple  bruises,  cuts,  or 
sores  on  the  skin  may  be  left  to  nature,  or  at  most  anointed 
with  tincture  of  myrrh  and  aloes,  and  if  the  sores  discharge 
15^  (171) 


172  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

matter,  substitute  a  wash  of  chloride  of  zinc,  in  the  propor- 
tion of  four  grains  to  the  ounce  of  soft  water  to  check 
excessive  granulation  (proud  flesh).  In  the  heat  of  sum- 
mer, sores  do  not  as  a  general  thing  heal  readily. 

Sprains. — The  effects  of  sprains  in  horses  depend  on 
their  situation  and  severity.  If  a  ligament  be  sprained 
it  will  be  more  readily  cured  than  if  the  injury  involve  the 
articulations  of  a  joint;  this  not  only  gives  more  trouble, 
but  is  liable  to  a  recurrence.  Sprains  of  the  muscles,  liga- 
ments, or  articulations  of  a  joint  require  for  their  cure 
absolute  and  entire  rest,  without  which  little  good  result 
will  be  observed  from  the  best-directed  treatment.  Let 
no  hot  oils,  liniments,  embrocations,  or  blisters  be  applied, 
till  all  heat  and  tenderness  have  been  removed ;  after  this 
is  fully  assured  and  the  foot  placed  more  firmly  upon  the 
ground,  the  following  liniment  may  be  applied  : — 

Take  of  Oil  of  Olives, 

Oil  of  Turpentine, 

Tincture  of  Aconite  Roots,  each  two  ounces, 

Mix  and  apply  once  daily  till  the  skin  becomes  a  little 
rough  or  swollen. 

Diseases, — The  diseases  to  which  horses  are  subject 
are  many,  and  some  are  peculiar  to  the  American  sta- 
ble. Hence  the  necessity  for  the  employment  of  persons 
familiar  with  their  treatment.  We  do  not  wish  to  treat  of 
the  subject  in  the  present  volume,  as  it  is  fully  explained 
in  the  work  entitled  "  Diseases  in  the  American  Stable, 
Field,  and  Farmyard.'' 


RUNAWAY   HORSES — CLIPPING.  173 

Runaway  Horses. — lu  some  horses  this  habit  merely 
amounts  to  an  inclination — waiting  for  an  occasion  to  do 
so — and  should  be  settled  then  for  ever.  The  horse  should 
be  harnessed  with  coarse  harness  and  hitched  to  a  strong 
wagon,  taken  to  a  mud  road  and  given  every  opportunity 
to  run  away,  but  not  without  a  good  steady  driver  as  a 
guide,  and  to  urge  the  animal  to  take  his  satisfaction  in 
full  by  a  thorough  run  without  an  effort  to  stop  him. 

Pasturing  of  Colts  and  Young  Horses. — The  ex- 
perience of  many  years  has  taught  the  author  that  the 
present  system  of  pasturing  colts  and  young  horses  is 
not  only  wrong,  but  positively  injurious  to  them ;  espe- 
cially if  they  be  high-bred  animals.  How  often  have 
we  been  called  to  see  young  thoroughbred  colts  afflicted 
with  diseases  of  the  bones  and  joints  of  the  legs — ring-bone 
and  spavin  !  Why  is  this  so  in  animals  that  have  never 
been  worked  in  any  way,  and  only  from  one  to  three  years  of 
age  ?  It  is  simply  because  of  too  much  range  of  pasture,  and 
often  the  pasturing  of  too  many  of  them  together.  Let 
a  half  to  one  acre  be  strongly  fenced  for  each  colt,  and  there 
will  be  no  ring-bone  among  them.  The  fence  for  this 
purpose — or  at  all  events  one  that  answers  well — is  the 
dri/  stone  wall  (laid  up  without  lime  or  mortar). 

Clipping. — We  refer  to  this  subject,  not  to  describe 
how  it  is  performed,  because  there  are  persons  who  make 
a  business  of  clipping  horses,  but  to  show  in  what  kind  of 
horses  it  is  an  advantage,  as  well  as  those  on  whom  it 
has  a  contrary  effect.     Horses  that  are  used  for  long  drives 


174  AMERICAN    STABLE    GUIDE. 

and  have  long  coats  of  hair,  which  a  long  winter  night  will 
not  drj,  should  be  clipped  for  health's  sake,  if  for  no  other 
consideration ;  this  will  enable  the  animal  to  do  the  work 
with  greater  freedom  and  less  loss  of  nerve  force,  as  will  be 
seen  by  his  improved  condition  and  spirit.  Horses  used 
for  shopping,  calling,  and  standing  at  the  doors  on  the 
street  in  cold  weather,  are  better  with  their  coats  on,  for 
the  removal  of  it  would  amount  almost  to  cruelty, 

Good  Feeding  overlooked,  but  an  important 
Agent  in  improvement  of  Breeds  of  Horses. — The 
agriculturist — the  tiller  of  the  soil — the  producer  of  grain 
or  vegetable  matter,  will  readily  understand  when  for  a 
simile,  we  liken  the  sustenance  of  animal  life  to  that  of 
plants,  inasmuch  as  both  develop  stamina  in  accordance 
with  the  materials  used  or  consumed  to  promote  growth  and 
perfection.  In  poor  soil  or  earth  containing  little  or  none 
of  the  constituents  of  the  plant,  it  cannot  grow  and  deve- 
lop, even  though  assisted  by  cultivation  and  a  favorable 
season,  as  it  otherwise  would  were  it  upon  soil  supplied 
with  or  containing  all  that  its  nature  demands.  So  it  is 
with  horses  in  growth  and  perfection  of  development. 
What  can  be  expected  but  a  faulty  form  from  the  progeny 
of  a  starved  mare  ?  This  may  in  a  great  degree  be 
improved  by  subsequent  generosity,  extended  both  to  colt 
and  dam^-to  the  latter  when  giving  milk,  and  to  the  former 
till  a  perfect  form  is  attained  and  the  animal  has  arrived  at 
its  maturity.  What  wisdom  or  economy  is  there  in  stint- 
ing and  starving  colts  the  first  years  of  their  existence,  and 


ADVANTAGES    OF    GOOD    FEEDING.  175 

expecting  them  not  to  show  it  in  subsequent  life  ?  To 
improve  more  fully  the  forms  and  perfection  of  horses  of 
whatever  breed,  good  and  generous  diet  must  be  allowed 
to  both  sire  and  dam  even  before  procreation,  and  to  the 
offspring  from  the  commencement  of  its  existence  till  a 
perfect  animal  is  produced  or  it  has  attained  the  age  of  six 
years. 

By  proper  attention  to  feeding,  &c.,  the  law  of  like  pro- 
ducing like  will  not  only  be  modified  and  improved  upon, 
but  a  good  sire  and  dam  will  be  reflected  in  a  better  animal 
of  its  kind. 


Ground  Plun  of  SlabU  of  Fairman  Rogers,  Philaddplda. 


(176) 


DESCRIPTION 

OF 

PRIVATE  STABLE  OF  FAIRMAN  ROGERS,  Esq. 

PHILADELPHIA. 


See  Prontispiece. 


This  stable  is  50  feet  by  32  feet  3  inches,  and  15  feet 
high  to  the  under  side  of  the  cornice.  Under  the  part 
where  the  horses  stand  there  is  a  cellar  20  X  20,  divided 
into  two  parts,  one  for  manure,  the  other  for  the  small 
greenhouse  boiler  which  heats  the  harness-room  and  coach- 
house, and  supplies  hot  water  for  the  stable.  The  ceiling 
of  these  cellars  is  of  iron  beams,  with  brick  arches  laid  in 
hydraulic  cement,  forming  a  firm  floor  for  the  stable. 

The  manure  cellar  does  not  open  into  the  stable,  but  by 
an  outside  door  into  the  alley  in  the  rear.  The  other  cel- 
lar is  entered  from  the  bottom  of  the  hay-drop. 

The  coach-house  C  H  is  30  X  22  with  an  asphalte 
floor,  afi'ording  room  for  four  carriages  to  stand,  besides 
space  to  drive  in.  The  floor  slopes  to  a  drain  over  which 
carriages  are  washed. 

The  harness-room  HRisl6X'?'^,  and  contains  glass 

(177) 


178  AMERICAN    STABLE   GUIDE. 

cases  for  harness  and  saddles  H  C  and  S  C,  with  bit-case 
and  whip-racks  on  the  other  side.  The  washroom.  W  R 
contains  wash-basin  and  water-closet.  The  passage  P  from 
coachhouse  to  stable,  is  four  feet  wide  and  has  its  corners 
rounded  off.  A  closet  C  for  the  carriage-brushes,  &c.,  and 
a  hay-drop  from  above,  occupies  the  space  in  the  turning  of 
the  stairs. 

The  stable  is  30  X  17;  it  is  divided  into  three  loose- 
boxes,  each  12  X  10?  and  a  passage  five  feet  wide.  The 
fronts  and  divisions  of  the  boxes  are  all  movable.  The 
posts  reaching  from  the  floor  to  the  ceiling,  and  all  or  any 
of  them  can  be  changed  into  stalls,  thus  giving  accommo- 
dations for  three,  four,  five,  or  six  horses  at  pleasure.  The 
stalls  are  five  feet  wide.  Each  stall  has  a  drain,  and  each 
box  consequently  two,  running  into  a  main  drain  behind 
the  stalls,  and  thence  through  a  trap  into  the  well  in  the 
cellar.  The  drains  are  of  cast  iron  covered  with  movable 
iron  gratings,  so  that  they  can  easily  be  cleaned  throughout 
the  entire  length. 

The  waste-pipe  of  the  sink  runs  into  the  trap  to  insure 
its  being  always  full  of  water  and  not  of  urine.  The  floor 
of  these  boxes  is  made  of  oak  strips  with  asphalte  run  be- 
tween them. 

The  racks  and  mangers  are  of  iron,  and  movable,  so  as 
to  suit  both  boxes  and  stalls  and  to  admit  of  their  being 
cleaned  and  painted.  The  sink  S  is  furnished  with  hot 
and  cold  water,  and  in  a  kind  of  niche  with  a  closet  for 
stable-brushes,  &c.,  over  it. 


AMERICAN   STABLE   GUIDE.  179 

The  stable  is  ventilated  by  fresh  air  coming  in  through 
flues  in  the  south  wall  and  by  a  movable  fan-light  over  the 
door,  and  the  foul  air  is  taken  out  by  ventilator  Y  close  to 
the  floor  and  by  a  large  opening  at  the  ceiling,  both  open- 
ing into  the  central  ventilating  shaft,  which  is  warmed  by 
the  waste  heat  from  the  tank  of  the  boiler.  There  is  almost  a 
total  absence  of  stable  smell,  except  when  the  weather  is  so 
cold  that  less  air  than  usual  can  be  admitted.  The  oats  come 
down  in  wooden  pipes  in  the  back  of  the  saddle-case  open- 
ing into  the  stable.  Under  the  stairs  is  a  closet  for  buck- 
ets, brooms,  and  hose. 

The  first  floor  is  11  feet  high  in  the  clear,  which  with 
1  foot  for  the  joists  leaves  3  feet  for  the  height  of  second 
story  at  the  sides.  It  is  9  feet  in  the  clear  under  the  ridge- 
pole, giving  ample  space  for  hay,  straw,  and  feed,  with  a 
comfortable  coachman's  dressing-room,  without  adding 
much  to  the  apparent  height  of  the  stable  from  the  outside. 
A  large  hay-door,  made  like  a  dormer  window,  opens  on  to 
the  back  street.  The  large  sliding  coach-house  doors  open 
on  to  the  end  of  a  twenty  foot  street  which  runs  straight  out 
from  them. 

The  building  has  thirteen-inch  brick  walls,  and  is  lined 
and  finished  throughout  with  yellow  pine  varnished,  there 
being  no  plastering. 


16 


INDEX 


Accidents,  171. 

Advantages  of  good  feeding,  174. 
Agricultural  steam  boiler,  106, 107. 
Airing  the  stables,  108. 
Analysis  of  corn,  80. 

of  oats,  81. 
Anemia,  168. 
Antimony,  166. 

Application  of  cold  water,  136. 
Arsenic,  165. 
Assafoetida,  166. 
Axles,  144. 

Collings  patent,  144. 

Bale-posts,  27. 

Bandages,  126. 

Bark,  tan,  138. 

Barley,  87. 

Bar-sand,  138. 

Beauty  of  carriages,  142. 

Bedding,  137. 

Biting,  139. 

Bits,  157,  159. 

Blacking,  harness,  150,  151. 

Blanketing  horses,  121. 

Blankets,  tearing  the,  141. 

straightening  the,  110. 
Boiler,  agricultural,  106,  107. 
Boxes,  loose,  28. 
Bran,  103. 
Brass  mounts,  155. 
Breaking  loose  in  the  stall,  141. 
Breeding,  171. 
Bridle,  English  bridoon,  152,  159. 

Kemble  Jackson,  153. 


Bridles,  157. 

Bridoon  bridle,  152,  159. 

Brood-mare,  food  for,  73. 

Care  of  carriages,  148. 

horses'  feet,  130. 
Carraway  seed,  166. 
Carriage-house,  40. 
Carriages,  142. 

beauty  of,  142. 

lightness,  strength,  and  weak- 
ness of,  142. 

axles,  144. 

Collings  patent  axles,  144. 

springs,  145. 

shackles,  147. 

care  of,  148. 

cleansing  of,  148. 

crown  soap,  150. 

cresylic  soap,  151. 
Carrots,  89. 
Catch-pit,  24. 
Chain,  curb,  155. 
Chemistry  of  food,  66. 
Chill,  remedy  for,  169. 
City  railway  car  stables,  58. 
City  stables,  walls  of,  18. 
Clean,  vicious  to,  141. 
Cleansing  the  stable,  108,  111,  117, 
118. 

carriages,  148. 
Clipping,  173. 
Clover  hay,  99. 
Club-stable,  44. 

regulations  of,  45. 

(181) 


182 


INDEX. 


Cold  water,  application  of,  132. 
Colts,  pasturing  of,  173. 
Cooley's  lock  hasp,  65. 
Coriander  seed,  166. 
Corn,  79,  83. 

a  heat-producing  feed,  69. 

analysis  of,  80. 
Corn-meal  and  bran,  84. 
Cresylic  soap,  151. 
Cribbing,  140. 

prevention  of,  140. 
Crown  soap,  150. 
Curb-bit,  159,  155. 
Curb-chain,  155. 
Cutter,  hay  and  straw,  102. 

"Dandy  brush,"  115. 
Doors  of  stables,  19. 
fastenings  of,  20 
"Dexter's"  feed,  70. 
Diseases  of  horses,  172. 
Drainage  of  stables,  23. 
Draught  horses,  85. 
Dressing,  or  grooming,  113,  115, 

116. 
Dry-hard  hoofs,  131. 

Egg,  white  of,  167. 
Exercise,  118. 

Fairman  Rogers's  stable,  177. 

Farm  stable,  61. 

Fastenings  to  doors  of  stables,  20. 

Feed,  "Dexter's,"  70. 

Feed  for  brood  mares,  73. 

mules,  74. 

old  horses,  73. 

stallions,  74. 

spavined  horses,  73. 

railway  horses,  71. 
Feeding,  regularity  in,  109. 
Feet,  care  of,  130. 
Floors  of  stables,  22. 
Food,  chemistry  of,  66 
Foot  properly   prepared    for   the 
shoe  (illustration),  133. 


Forest  leaves  for  bedding,  138. 
Four-in-band,  153. 

Gentleman's  stable,  17. 

Good  feeding,  advantages  of,  174. 

Grass,  92. 

for  bedding,  137. 
Grooming,  113,  115,  116. 
Gunpowder  as  a  medicine,  167. 
Gutter,  iron  surface,  24. 

Hanoverian  bit,  159 
Harness,  151. 

specialities  in,  151. 

care  of,  154,  155. 

paste  and  blacking,  154,  155. 
Harness-room,  42. 
Hay,  96,  99,  102. 
Hay  and  straw  cutter,  102. 
Hay  loft,  19. 

Heat-producing  feed,  corn  a,  69. 
Horse  feed,  weight  per  bushel  of 

articles  of,  105. 
Horses,  runaway,  173. 

"led,"  119. 

poor  man's,  72. 

blanketing,  121. 

diseases  of,  172, 

draught,  85. 

number  of  in  United  States, 
11. 

prices  of,  1.3-15. 

shoeing,  132. 

spavined,  feed  for,  73. 

young,  pasturing  of,  173. 
Horses'  feet,  care  of,  130. 
Hoofs,  dry-bard,  131. 
House  for  carriage,  40. 

Implements  in  private  stables,  114. 
Iron  surface  gutter,  24. 

Keeper  of  livery  stable,  53. 
Kemble  Jackson  bridle,  153. 
Kicking,  138. 
Kicking-strap,  153. 


INDEX. 


183 


Leaves,  forest,  as  bedding,  138. 
"Led"  horse,  119. 
Lighting  of  stables,  36. 
Lightness,  strength  and  weakness 

of  carriages,  142. 
Liniment  for  sprains,  172. 
Lip-strap,  159. 
Liquid,  polishing,  156. 
Livery  stable,  50. 
keeper  of,  53. 
Lock  hasp,  Cooley's,  65. 
Loft,  hay,  19. 
Loose-boxes,  28. 
Loose,  breaking,  141. 

Mangers,  26. 
Mare,  brood,  feed  for,  73. 
Meadow  grass  for  bedding,  138. 
Medicine,  gunpowder  as  a,  167. 
Mounts,  brass,  155. 

Prince's  or  yellow  metal,  155. 
Mules,  feed  for,  74. 
Mustard  seed,  166. 

Natural  grass  for  bedding,  138. 
Nostrums,  substitute  for,  168. 
Number  of  horses  in  the  United 
States,  11. 

Oats,  75. 

analysis  of,  81. 
Oat-straw,  138. 
Oil,  sweet,  166. 
Old  horses,  feed  for,  73. 

Paste,  harness,  154,  155. 
Pasturing  colts  and  young  horses, 

173. 
Pelham  bit,  159. 
Phillips's  stable,  41. 
Polishing  liquid,  156. 
Poor  man's  horse,  72. 
Prevention  of  cribbing,  140. 
Prices  of  horses,  13-15. 
Prince'a-metal  mounts,  155. 
Private    stables,    implements    in, 

114. 

16* 


Quantity  and  quality  of  food,  72. 

Racing  stable,  54. 

plan  of,  55. 
Racks,  26. 

Railroad  horses,  feed  of,  71. 
Railroad  stables,  58. 
Regularity  in  feeding,  109. 
Regulations  of  club  stable,  45. 
Rein,  safety,  158. 
Remedy  for  chill,  169. 
Rogers's  (Fairman)  stable,  177. 
Rolling  in  the  stable,  140. 
Room  for  harness,  42. 
Root,  snake,  168. 
Runaway  horses,  173. 
Rye,  89. 
Rye  straw,  137. 

Saddles,  156. 

Safety-rein,  158. 

Salt-marsh  grass  for  bedding,  138. 

Sand,  bar,  138. 

Saw-dust  for  bedding,  138, 

Seed,  carraway,  166. 

coriander,  166 

mustard,  166. 
Shackles,  147. 
Shaft,  ventilating,  33. 
Shoeing  horses,  132. 
Shying  in  the  stable,  135. 
Sleeping-room  for  stableman,  39. 
Snaflfle-bit,  157. 
Snake  root,  168. 
Spavined  horses,  feed  for,  73. 
Specialities  in  harness,  151. 
Sprains,  172. 

liniment  for,  172. 
Springs  of  carriages,  145. 
Stable,  farm,  61. 

club,  44. 

gentleman's,  17. 

Fairman  Rogers's,  177. 

Phillips's,  41. 

livery,  50. 

racing,  54. 

work,  108. 


184 


INDEX. 


Stable  vices,  138. 

Stableman,  sleeping-room  for,  39. 

Stables,  doors  of,  19. 

windows  of,  20. 

fastenings  to  doors  of,  20. 

blinds  to  windows  of,  21. 

floors  of,  22. 

drainage  of,  23. 

ventilation  of,  32-37,  109. 

lighting  of,- 36. 

temperature  of,  37-39. 

city,  walls  of,  18. 

cleaning,  108. 

airing,  109. 

city  railway  car,  58. 

variety  of,  43. 
Stallion,  feed  for,  74. 
Stall-posts,  27. 
Stalls,  25. 
Steam    boiler,    agricultural,    106, 

107. 
Straightening  the  blankets,  110. 
Strap,  kicking,  153. 

lip,  159. 
Straw  cutter,  102. 
Straw,  oat,  138. 
Substitute  for  nostrums,  168. 
Sweet  oil,  166. 

Tan  bark,  138 
Tandem,  154. 
Tea,  willow-bark,  167. 


Tearing  the  blankets,  l4l. 

"  Telegraph"  hay  and  straw  cutter, 

102. 
Temperature  of  stables,  37-39. 
Timothy  hay,  96. 
Training,  171. 
Treatment  after  work,  135. 
Turnips,  89. 
Tying,  128. 

Variety  of  stables,  43. 
Ventilating  shaft,  33. 
Ventilation  of  stables,  32-37,  109. 
Veterinary  nostrums,  165. 

surgeons,  161. 
Vices,  stable,  138. 
Vicious  to  clean,  141. 

Walls  of  city  stables,  18. 
Water-brush,  110. 
Water,  cold,  application  of,  136. 
Watering  horses,  74,  111. 
Weight  per  bushel  of  articles  of 

horse  feed,  105. 
White  of  egg,  167. 
Willow-bark  tea,  167. 
AVindows  of  stables,  20. 

blinds  for,  21. 
Work,  treatment  after,  135. 

Yellow-metal  mounts,  155. 
Young  horses,  pasturing  of,  173. 


THE  END. 


¥^tebster  Family  Library  of  Veterinaiy  MedldRg 

Ciimmings  School  of  Veterinary  Medicine  s^ 

Tufts  University 

200  Westboro  Road 

Morth  Grafton.  MA  OfiSm 


